The No. 16-ranked West Virginia University baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader against Texas Tech at Kendrick Family Ballpark, keeping their position at the top of the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders claimed game one with a 6-4 win, but the Mountaineers responded strongly with a 3-2 victory in game two.
West Virginia now sits at 17-4 in conference play and 38-7 overall, maintaining a three-game lead in the Big 12 standings over Kansas and Arizona State. Texas Tech dropped to 16-27 overall and 11-12 in the Big 12.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Red Raiders took early control with two runs in the first inning. WVU’s Grant Hussey responded with a solo home run in the third, part of a three-hit performance. However, Texas Tech extended their lead with a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh, making it 6-1.
The Mountaineers showed life in the bottom half of the seventh when Ben Lumsden drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Skylar King followed with a two-run homer to narrow the deficit to 6-4. In the ninth, WVU loaded the bases, but the comeback fell just short as Texas Tech closed out the win.
Hussey and King each hit a home run in the loss, while Sam White contributed two hits. WVU left several runners stranded in key moments, which ultimately made the difference in the game.
The second game saw a shift in momentum. Sam White continued his strong day with two more hits and two RBIs. Jace Rinehart also chipped in with an RBI single in the third inning, helping West Virginia build an early 3-1 lead.
Senior pitcher Reese Bassinger was called into the game in the third inning after a teammate left due to injury. Bassinger stepped up in a major way, delivering seven scoreless innings, allowing just two runs on five hits, with four strikeouts and no walks. The performance improved his season record to a perfect 6-0.
White’s RBI doubles in the first and third innings gave the Mountaineers a solid start. After Rinehart drove him in to make it 3-1, Texas Tech scored once in the fourth to cut the lead to one. From there, Bassinger took control, keeping the Red Raiders off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
The teams will face off again on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the three-game series. With the postseason approaching, every win is crucial as WVU aims to finish strong and lock down a top seed in the Big 12 tournament.
The Mountaineers continue to prove they are contenders, showing resilience and depth on both sides of the field despite early adversity.
