West Virginia Responds and Salvages Series Against Oklahoma State

The Mountaineers' bats get hot and knock off Cowboys

West Virginia freshman Spencer Barnett hammers a two-RBI double in the second inning versus Oklahoma State.

Granville, WV – West Virginia dropped the first two games of the series to Oklahoma State, falling 2-1 in game one and went into extra inning in game two tied at one before allowing nine runs in the 11th inning for a 10-1 decision. The Mountaineers (16-12, 5-4) responded Sunday, recording a season-best 16 hits and tied a season-high 15 runs Sunday afternoon in the series finale win over the Cowboys to salvage the series.

“They were better approaches [at the plate] - our approaches have been pretty good,” said WVU head coach Randy Mazey. “It was the seriousness of trying to salvage a win and our backs were against the wall, just like they were just like last Friday [versus Oklahoma] after we got no hit down there.  So far, this team, every time their backs been against the wall, they’ve responded.”

Oklahoma State freshman Avery Ortiz lifted a solo home run in the top of the second to give the Cowboys an early 1-0 advantage.

West Virginia responded in the bottom of the inning with six runs. Oklahoma State’s two errors and a walk loaded the bases setting up freshman Spencer Barnett to drive a ground-rule double into the gap of left centerfield for a pair of RBIs.

West Virginia freshman Aaron Jamison lays down a bunt in the second inning against Oklahoma State. | Christopher Hall

Kyle West capped the inning, ripping a three-RBI double down the left field line. The senior finished the afternoon 2-5 with four RBIs.

After trailing by nine, Oklahoma State started to gain some momentum in the sixth, cutting the deficit to five. Following an RBI double from freshman Aaron Jamison, Barnett hit a hard groundball back up the middle to score two more runs for a three-run sixth inning to extend the lead back to 8 13-5.

“He went into the fall not even knowing if he was going to make the team or not, and here he is, in a Big 12 series, trying to win to a game and he goes and gets four hits and five hits,” Mazey said. ‘Credit to him and his preparation and what he’s ready to do.”

West Virginia sophomore Sam White takes the lead off second base against Oklahoma State. | Christopher Hall

The Cowboys were closing the gap in the eighth, dwindling the lead back to five and, with no outs, had the bases loaded. Mazey called in right-hander Carson Estridge. The sophomore registered the first out with a short fly ball to left field from Ortiz, then consecutive strikeouts to end the inning ended the threat and he remained unblemished in the ninth for the 15-10 decision.

That was pretty cool to see.” Mazey said. “Ethridge, the look in his eye, he’s kind of a crazy man to start with, the look in his eye, he just wanted to finish that game.”

“If you’re in baseball, you want to be on the mound with the game on the line and you want to be in the box with the game on the line. And, you have to be able to develop that,” Mazey said. "That’s why we’re always trying to create those situations in intersquad games and practice to see how guys respond.”

West Virginia will be back in action on the road against the Kansas Jayhawks. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. EST, game two is Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and the series finale is set for Sunday at 12:30 p.m.