West Virginia looks to break a four-game losing streak and get back on the right track in an elimination game against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State and West Virginia were two of the co-champions in the Big 12 for the regular season, and the other in Texas, just lost their second game of the tournament and are out.
The winner of this game is most likely on an inside track to host a regional. West Virginia took two of three from the Cowboys during the regular season, with the series taking place in Stillwater.
West Virginia’s offense has been struggling recently, most notably with Big 12 Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt. Wetherholt is 2-for-17 during West Virginia’s four-game skid. Oklahoma State lost to Oklahoma 9-5 in the opening round, while WVU lost to Texas Tech 6-2 in the opening round yesterday.
West Virginia is shuffling their lineup in a big way, moving McNeely and Hussey up, while putting Barry, and Leonard further down in the lineup. WVU is also going with their ace in Hampton, while Oklahoma State is going with a reliever on the mound in McLean.
The winner of this game is set to take on the loser of Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
West Virginia Lineup
Tevin Tucker- SS
JJ Wetherholt- 2B
Caleb McNeely- RF
Grant Hussey- 1B
Landon Wallace- LF
Sam White- 3B
Braden Barry- CF
Dayne Leonard- C
Logan Suave- DH
Ben Hampton- SP
Oklahoma State Lineup
Zach Ehrhard- CF
Roc Riggio- 2B
Carson Benge- RF
Chase Adkinson- C
Nolan Schubart- LF
Tyler Wulfert- 3B
Colin Brueggemann- DH
David Mendham- 1B
Marcus Brown- SS
Nolan McLean- SP
First Inning
WVU: Wetherholt reaches on a hit-by-pitch, but McNeely and Hussey go down on strikes, as the Mountaineers are held scoreless in the first.
OSU: Oklahoma State loads the bases with no outs after a leadoff single, error, and hit-by-pitch. Adkinson scores one on a sacrifice fly, and then the Cowboys add a second run on a fielder’s choice.
End 1: OSU 2, WVU 0
Second Inning
WVU: Wallace leads off the second inning with a double to left field. White moves him to third and then Barry drives him in both on groundouts.
OSU: Hampton goes 1-2-3, and records hit 200th strikeout of the season.
End 2: OSU 2, WVU 1
Third Inning
WVU: Suave and Tucker both fly out, while Wetherholt checks in with a two-out single. McNeely grounds out to end the top of the inning.
OSU: Brown leads the inning off for the Cowboys with a single against the shift to left field. Benge ends the inning with a deep flyout to center field which Barry tracks down on the warning track for WVU.
End 3: OSU 2, WVU 1
Fourth Inning
WVU: Wallace reaches on an error by Wulfert at third, but that’s all West Virginia gets going in the fourth.
OSU: Hampton works around a single, and uses three fly outs to get out of the inning.
End 4: OSU 2, WVU 1
Fifth Inning
WVU: It takes McLean only six pitches to retire WVU in order.
OSU: Hampton works around a walk, including a 4-3 double play to end the inning.
End 5: OSU 2, WVU 1
Sixth Inning
WVU: Wetherholt leads off the inning with a double, before Hussey walks, and Wallace singles to load the bases. White brings Wetherholt home on a groundout to tie the game. That’s all the Mountaineers are able to bring across in the sixth.
OSU: Hampton retires the middle of Oklahoma State’s order on just nine pitches.
End 6: WVU 2, OSU 2
Seventh Inning
WVU: Suave doubles, and then Wetherholt is intentionally walked before McNeely strikes out swinging on three pitches.
OSU: Carlson Reed comes on in relief for West Virginia and he goes 1-2-3, around two strikeouts and a caught stealing by Leonard.
End 7: WVU 2, OSU 2
Eighth Inning
WVU: West Virginia has Hussey on first after a walk and Wallace lays down a perfect bunt. Wallace is called out for runners interference moving Hussey back to first. Barry then walks to put runners on first and second, but Leonard strikes out.
OSU: Mendham leads the inning off with an infield single. Brown moves him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Riggio with a go-ahead single.
End 8: OSU 3, WVU 2
Ninth Inning
WVU: Suave goes down on strikes swinging. Tucker goes down on strikes swinging. Wetherholt is hit by a pitch. McNeely doubles. Hussey is hit by a pitch. Wallace strikes out swinging to end the game.
