Box Score MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 12 West Virginia baseball team struggled at the plate, Friday against Texas Tech, falling to the Red Raiders, 5-2. The Mountaineers fall to 37-13 and 13-6 in the Big 12 while Texas tech improves to 35-16 and 10-9 in conference play.
 
"Normally if we limit the opponent to five runs, we've got a pretty good chance," said head coach Randy Mazey. "But their pitcher did a good job controlling the game. We've got to hit the reset button, come out tomorrow and do our best to win it."
 
The Mountaineers managed just six hits on the day and struck out 14 times. Freshman Ellis Garcia had a double and drove in both runs.
 
On the mound, junior Ben Hampton threw 5.0 innings, striking out one and allowing three runs. Sophomore Aidan Major tossed the final 4.0 innings with five strikeouts while allowing two runs.
 
West Virginia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second as graduate student Dayne Leonard walked before back-to-back doubles from redshirt-senior Caleb McNeely and Garcia.
 
The Red Raiders got one run back in the third before taking the lead with two runs in the fourth. The score remained the same until the ninth when Texas Tech tacked on two insurance runs.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Mountaineers got the tying run to the plate with one out, but a flyout and strikeout ended the game.
 
WVU will look to bounce back tomorrow in game two of the series. First pitch from Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark is set for 4 p.m.
 
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