Baylor Blows Late Lead against West Virginia, Loses 7-6

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia – Baylor baseball (16-13, 2-5) blew a late lead against West Virginia (18-10, 3-1) on Friday night. 

The game got off to a wild start due to unpredictable weather, accompanied by a string of events you do not see very often. 

The rain began to pour once the sides had switched going into the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Thomas started the game at a clear disadvantage having to throw in downpouring rain. 

In a 2-2 count, Thomas had a ball slip off his finger to nail the Mountaineer's, leadoff man. Three wild pitches later due to the wet conditions, the umpires were forced to briefly delay the game. 

The game resumed fifteen minutes later with runners on the corners and no outs. Once the rain subsided, Thomas went to work. 

Baylor Athletics

The Bears caught a break when West Virginia’s leadoff man, Austin Davis, attempted to score off of a sacrifice fly. But it turned out, Davis never touched home plate. Harrison Caley promptly stepped on home to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. 

Kyle Nevin, Chase Wehsener, and Casen Neumann all walked to begin the top of the second inning. Each sporting a quality at-bat. With the bases loaded and no outs, and the momentum shifting to the Bears’ dugout, Caley struck out. Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo followed that up by hitting into a double play to get the Mountaineers out of the inning. 

It was another frustrating example of not capitalizing on a great opportunity.

West Virginia took advantage of the Baylor mishap by virtue of a 2RBI double by Mikey Kluska. Jack Pineda then made an error attempting to throw a wet ball. Another run scored and it gave West Virginia the early 3-0 lead. 

Baylor once again loaded the bases in the top of the third. This time the Bears capitalized on a Jared McKenzie single through the right side that scored Alex Gonzales. Kyle Nevin hit a huge 2RBI single into center to tie the game at 3 apiece. 

The Bears added 2 more runs in the fourth thanks to Pineda. With runners on the corners, he hit a double down the left-field line to score Cardoza-Oquendo from third. Then Richardson reached on a throwing error that scored Gonzales from third. 5-3 BU.

Holbrook hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to close the Baylor lead to 5-4.

Amid the bad weather, Tyler Thomas persevered and pitched about as well as one could with the hand that he was dealt. Thomas ended with 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, and 6 Ks on 105 pitches. 

Baylor added an insurance run in the sixth when Casen Neumann lined a single into right to score Kyle Nevin from second. 6-4 BU.

Adam Muirhead performed well for two innings. But in the eighth, he gave up a single, then a double, and hit a batter with a pitch. West Virginia closed the lead to just one run.

Then, Mason Marriott entered with runners on first and second and no outs. He fumbled a bunt to load the bases, and walked in a run to tie the game at 6. This marked the third conference game that the Bayor bullpen has blown a late lead. 

Marriott then allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch advanced the runner to second. West Virginia then had a failed bunt attempt followed by two more walks. With the bases now loaded Marriott struck one out before walking in the winning run on a full count.

Baylor stranded eleven runners on base tonight. 

I’m getting tired of saying this, but this was a game Baylor had and they should have won.

Final: West Virginia 7 - Baylor 6  

W: T. Braithwaite (2-0) L: Mason Marriott (2-1) 

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor baseball (16-13, 2-5) continues their series against West Virginia (18-10, 3-1) tomorrow at 12:00 P.M. at Mongolia County Ballpark.