JJ Weatherholt (left) and Steve Sabins (right) during the second game of WVU vs. UCF in Granville. (Photo: Kevin Redfern)
Historically, the Texas Tech baseball team has been known for its power in the batter’s box, and the Red Raiders matched that description Friday night against West Virginia University.
The Mountaineers (23-14, 11-5 Big 12) lost 15-2 to Texas Tech (27-13, 10-9 Big 12) on Friday night in Lubbock, Texas.
This is the second time all season that WVU junior right-hander Aidan Major has failed to pitch at least five innings as a starter. Majors allowed six runs through the first three innings and left the game after the third inning with WVU leading 6-0. He struck out five Red Raiders while allowing six hits and two walks.
WVU freshman right-hander Chase Meyer added another point in the bottom of the fifth inning when Red Raiders left fielder Drew Woodcox recorded an RBI sac fly and Texas Tech took a 7-0 lead.
WVU scored its first and only run of the night in the sixth inning when left fielder Kyle West hit his ninth home run of the year, making it 7-2.
In the home half of the sixth inning, the Red Raiders fought back with double the force. Texas Tech third baseman and cleanup man Austin Green hit an unerring grand slam off Meyer, giving the Red Raiders an 11-2 lead. Green led all batters Friday night with three hits in five at bats, including a grand slam and two doubles.
Luke Lyman made WVU’s second appearance of the season out of the bullpen, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. Lyman was replaced by Tommy Beam, who allowed four earned runs in the eighth inning as Texas Tech clinched the game 15-2.
The Mountaineers also committed three errors on the field Friday night, tying the most in a single game of the season.
Game 2 of the WVU vs. Texas Tech series is scheduled for Saturday at 3pm ET on ESPN+.