Texas smacks WVU again, sets up final game showdown with title and seeding implications

It looked as if West Virginia was going to steal the initiative early on Friday, as Landon Wallace blasted a solo homer over the scoreboard in left centerfield to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat. However, that momentum was short-lived, as the Longhorns scored seven runs over the next two innings to take command.

Just as it did in Thursday’s game, UT put its first two batters aboard with singles, and again capitalized by pushing them home with a double and a sacrifice fly. Eric Kennedy completed the carnage with a two-run homer, the fifth hard-hit ball of the inning, putting the Mountaineers in another early hole.

One inning later, the Horns were back with the long ball attack, smashing two more for three additional runs to take a 7-1 lead. In those two frames, WVU starter Blaine Traxel threw 59 pitches as UT batters mostly avoided chasing pitches out of the zone, and drove in six of the seven runs on two-strike counts. While high pitch counts aren’t a hindrance to the durable righthander, the ability of Texas batters to get a good look at all of his offerings, and lay off them until he had to come into the zone to avoid walks, staked them to another big lead.

Traxel was left in to absorb the assault, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits through five innings, while throwing 109 pitches. The loss dropped his season record to 7-5.

For the second consecutive evening, Texas’ starter was dominant. Lebarron Johnson fanned 11 of the 23 Mountaineers he faced, yielding just two earned runs in a comfortable 5.1 innings of work while running his record to 7-2.

Even with that showing, WVU had chances to at least get back in the game and make it respectable. However, the Mountaineers managed just one run after loading the bases with none out in the third and stranded two with one out in the fourth, while Texas added three single scores in the middle innings to remove all doubt about the outcome.

Sam White drove in two cosmetic runs with a single in the ninth for WVU, and Caleb McNeely had a pair of doubles.

Despite the second consecutive blowout loss, West Virginia is now assured at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title after Oklahoma State was shut out by Oklahoma.

WVU and Texas meet in the final game of the regular season on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.

Texas has announced Tanner Witt (1-1, 13.50 ERA) as its starter, while West Virginia has not publicized its selection. WVU starter Ben Hampton has not pitched this weekend, and could get the start, or could be held out for Wednesday’s opener at the Big 12 Championship.

SEAMS AND BARRELS

Texas smacked four home runs for the second consecutive day. WVU has now struck out 23 times in 68 at-bats over the same span.

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Relief pitcher Noah Short made his 73rd appearance in a Mountaineer uniform tonight, setting a program record for a pitcher. He recorded a strikeout of the only Longhorn he faced.

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WVU did not manage back-to-back hits until the ninth inning, when it finally strung three together. Three of the Mountaineers’ six total runs have come in their last at-bat.

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West Virginia has not stolen a base in the two games in the series.