Box Score STILLWATER, Okla. – A late rally and another dominating performance on the mound powered the West Virginia University baseball team to a 4-2, series-clinching victory at No. 23 Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
 
The Mountaineers (19-12, 4-5 Big 12) have won back-to-back series against top-25 teams and have won five of their last six games. WVU, which erased a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the eighth inning and added an insurance run in the ninth, held the Cowboys (19-11, 6-3) to two first-inning runs on four hits in the finale.
 
"Coming off yesterday's loss, that was a real kick in the gut yesterday, having a 5-1 lead late in the game and losing it," WVU coach Randy Mazey said of the Mountaineers' response today. "Once again, our team answers the bell when they get challenged a little bit. That's just a huge win for our program right there."
 
Junior right-hander Kade Strowd turned in a third consecutive strong outing in the series by a Mountaineer starter to earn the win (4-2), his team-high-tying fourth of the season. In a career-long 7.1 innings, Strowd struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed two runs on four hits with four walks. The quality start was his fourth of the year.
 
"(Kade) got better as the game went on, which all three of our starters did that this weekend," Mazey added. "They got into the middle innings, they really got good and kept a really, really good offensive team at bay the whole weekend."
 
Junior right-hander Sam Kessler earned his sixth save of the season and pitched the final 1.1 innings. He struck out three batters in the ninth inning and stranded a runner on second to end the game.
 
Offensively, senior right fielder Darius Hill led the team with three hits and two RBIs with a run scored. He drove in the game's first run with a first-inning double, scored the game-tying run in the eighth and added an RBI single in the ninth.
 
For the third time in the series, and the 23rd time this season, West Virginia struck first, with a run in the first inning. Junior center fielder Brandon White drew a one-out walk and took second on an error on a failed pickoff attempt. That set up Hill, who doubled down the right-field line to score White.
 
Oklahoma State answered in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run by Colin Simpson.
 
Junior left fielder TJ Lake made a spectacular catch to rob a home run and end the second inning. With a runner on third, Lake's grab kept it a 2-1 game.
 
Strowd struck out two and left a runner on in both the third and fourth innings. After WVU left runners on the corners in the top of the fifth, Strowd retired the side in order in the bottom half, with another two strikeouts. The right-hander struck out one in the sixth and another in a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
The Mountaineers regained a 3-2 lead in the eighth with two runs on two hits. Hill got the inning started with a one-out single and advanced to second on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt. A walk put two on for sophomore designated hitter Paul McIntosh, who singled through the left side to score Hill and tie the game at 2-2. A two-out walk loaded the bases for Lake, who drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to bring in freshman pinch runner Phillip Dull, the go-ahead run.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Strowd struck out the first batter he faced before he issued a four-pitch walk. That ended his day, and senior left-hander Zach Reid relieved him and got a strikeout. Kessler followed with a groundout to end the inning.
 
West Virginia added an insurance run in the ninth inning to make it 4-2. With one out, White singled to left and stole second. Hill then singled through the right side, and White scored as the throw home was off line.
 
Kessler nailed down the win with three strikeouts in the ninth. He issued a one-out walk, and the runner took second on a passed ball, but Kessler followed with back-to-back strikeouts looking to end the game.
 
The Mountaineers travel to face Maryland on Wednesday, April 10. First pitch at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium, in College Park, Maryland, is set for 4 p.m. ET.
 
Notes: West Virginia is 19-12 on the season, 10-11 on the road and 4-5 in Big 12 play … WVU is 454 against top-25 teams and 10-8 against teams that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament … The Mountaineers have won back-to-back series against top-25 teams and have won five of their last six games … West Virginia is 17-6 when scoring first and 11-5 when scoring in the first inning … All three of WVU's starting pitchers had quality starts in the series at Oklahoma State and all went at least 7.0 innings … In a career-long 7.1 innings pitched, Kade Strowd struck out a season-high 10 batters … He allowed two runs on four hits with four walks … The quality start was Strowd's fourth of the season, and he earned his team-high-tying fourth win of the year … Sam Kessler earned his sixth save of the season and had three strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.
 
Single game tickets and flex plan mini-packages for the 2019 season are on sale now. Fans can join the excitement of WVU baseball and support the Mountaineers by purchasing tickets at WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVU GAME or visiting the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum.
 
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