Mountaineers Deliver Some Payback to No. 9 Red Raiders

The West Virginia Mountaineers (24-14, 7-5) came away with a huge game three victory over the ninth-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders (29-14, 9-6) Sunday afternoon 15-4, ensuring the win with a 10-run ninth inning.

West Virginia dropped the first two games of the series in a doubleheader on Saturday by a combined score of 19-7 and tallied just seven hits and was mercy-ruled after eight innings in game two with a 12-2 loss. In the win on Sunday, the Mountaineers racked up their 15 runs on 18 hits.

The Mountaineers grabbed the early advantage after Austin Davis led off the game with a double down the left field line, then stole second before J.J. Wetherhold delivered an RBI single. Wetherhold advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Victor Scott and McGwire Holbrook dropped in single into centerfield, scoring Wetherholt for the 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

An RBI double in the bottom of the third and fourth by the Red Raiders tied the game at 2

In the fifth, Austin Davis led off the inning with a base hit to centerfield, then Wetherhold hit the hole on the right side, placing runners at the corners. Victor Scott scored Davis on a sacrifice ground ball before an RBI double from Braden Barry down the left field line and Grant Hussey brought around Barry with a single to cap off a three run fifth and reclaiming the lead, 5-2.

Cole Stilwell homered in the bottom of the inning to cut into the WVU lead and delivered an RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh to get the Red Raiders within a run.

West Virginia ran away with the game in the ninth. Austin Davis collected hits four and five with two RBIs on a double and a single while J.J. Wetherholt scored Davis on a single and a double. Ean Smith highlighted the inning with a grand slam as West Virginia accumulated 10 runs on eight hits and salvaged the series with a 15-4 decision.

Smith led the Mountaineers with four RBIs, Davis delivered a team-leading five hits, three were doubles, and J.J. Wetherhold was 4-5 with three RBIs.

You can follow us for future coverage by following us on Facebook & Twitter:

Facebook - @WVUonSI

Twitter - @SI_WVU and Christopher Hall @WVHallBilly