Box Score MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team used a walk-off walk to earn a 7-6 win over Baylor on Friday night at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark.
With the game tied at 6 in the bottom of the ninth inning, sophomore infielder
Nathan Blasick drew a bases-loaded walk to score the game-winning run for the Mountaineers (18-10, 3-1 Big 12) in the series opener of the three-game, Big 12 set. WVU finished with nine hits in the win, scoring three runs in the second, one in the fourth, two in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Fifth-year senior right-handed pitcher
Trey Braithwaite earned the win, his second of the year, while Baylor's Mason Marriott took the loss.
"Usually he's in there with the game on the line, just like tonight," WVU coach
Randy Mazey said of Blasick. "He's done it before, and he's had some really big hits for us (this season). That's his role, and he has accepted that role."
After junior right-hander
Jacob Watters pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, a 15-minute weather delay halted the contest two batters into the bottom of the frame. From there, it appeared the Mountaineers would take 1-0 lead but an out at the plate on appeal squandered the chance.
WVU did find the scoreboard with a three-run, second inning, though. First, sophomore infielder
Mikey Kluska smacked a two-run double down the right-field line to make it 2-0. Moments later, West Virginia added its third run on a Baylor throwing error.
However, the Bears (16-13, 2-5 Big 12) answered with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead and knock Watters out of the game. But WVU got one back in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore catcher
McGwire Holbrook launched a solo home run to left.
On the mound, redshirt junior right-hander
Noah Short struck out six in 3.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. The Scott Depot, West Virginia, native yielded to sophomore right-hander
Carlson Reed, who got the final out of the seventh and retired BU in order in the eighth.
Then, WVU tied the game at 6 with a pair of runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Freshman infielder
JJ Wetherholt brought the hosts within one of the lead with an RBI double to left, before sophomore outfielder
Braden Barry drew a bases-loaded walk to level the score line.
In the ninth, the Mountaineers again loaded the bases for Blasick. That's when the Halifax, Pennsylvania, native laid off ball four to bring home the winning run.
Kluska finished 3-for-4 with two RBI in the win, while Holbrook tallied a pair of hits and two runs scored. Davis chipped in with a 2-for-3 night at the plate.
On the mound, Short, Reed and Braithwaite combined to allow just three hits with nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work out of the bullpen.
With the win, WVU improved to 8-1 at home this season. It also marked the sixth time it has won a game in the ninth inning or later this season.
West Virginia also stole its 100th base as a team on Friday night. It marks just the second time in program history that the Mountaineers have accomplished the feat.
Next up, the two teams meet in the middle game of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET, at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark. Of note, the game was moved up from its originally-scheduled 4 p.m., start time due to potential inclement weather later in the day.
Saturday is Family Day, featuring four tickets and a $10 concession voucher for just $25, as well as a mini-bat giveaway for the first 500 fans. It's also is Alumni Day at the ballpark.
Additionally, a special pregame, field dedication ceremony with Rick and Jay Wagener will be held prior to first pitch at approximately 12:45 p.m.
Fans who have tickets to Saturday's contest who are unable to attend the game at its new time can exchange for tickets to a future home game this season at Gate A of Monongalia County Ballpark, the Mountaineer Ticket Office or by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on
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