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West Virginia starter Michael Groves only got one out in his first appearance in the Big 12 Tournament this year when he suffered an apparent knee injury six pitches into the game. Ross Vance was called on in relief and delivered a shutout of the Oklahoma Sooners. In his second appearance in the tournament, Groves once again only recorded one out before Ross Vance was called on. Groves was ineffective in his second chance. He gave up 5 runs on 4 hits before Randy Mazey pulled him.
Ross Vance came on in relief and early on was ineffective. He gave up 3 more runs to stake TCU to an early 8-0 lead. The Mountaineers would begin to chip away, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third innings. Shortstop Jimmy Galusky bunted for a hit and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kyle Davis would notch one of his 14 RBI with a double to score Galusky. Davis would score on a Darius Hill single.
Back-to-back hits from @WVUBaseball's Davis and Hill make this an 8-2 game! #Big12BSB https://t.co/x9G1IyooNS
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 29, 2016
Ross Vance would settle down. Ross was mirage for the TCU hitters. The Horned Frogs could at times hit Vance, recording 10 against the senior but Vance seemed to find a way to pull the wool over the eyes of the hitters recording 12 strikeouts.
In the fourth inning, the Mountaineers cut into the TCU lead again. KC Huth produced a one-out single. Kyle Davis hit reached on a fielders choice as the Horned Frogs forced Huth out at second when the third baseman dropped a pop-up. Jimmy Galusky struck again when he beat out a single to deep short. Kyle Davis would single and Darius Hill stepped to the plate where he tripled, clearing the bases.
.@WVUBaseball cuts the lead to 8-6 with a two-RBI triple from Darius Hill in the bottom of the fourth! #Big12BSB https://t.co/xroV44ybSt
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 29, 2016
The Mountaineers would continue to battle and eventually take a 10-9 lead on Kyle Davis' Big 12 Tournament record 14 RBI. After a Jimmy Galusky double scored Jackson Cramer and KC Huth, Kyle Davis came on and doubled down the left field line to give finally give the Mountaineers the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kyle Davis' Championship record 14th RBI gives @WVUBaseball a 10-9 lead heading to the top of the sixth! #Big12BSB https://t.co/FVhGGNsH5d
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 29, 2016
The Horned Frogs would not go away quietly. They finally chased Ross Vance from the game after over 110 pitches for the senior. TCU had the bases loaded in the top of the 7th before BJ Myers struck out Cam Warner. Evan Skoug led off the eighth inning with a double before advancing to third on a sacrifice fly. Skoug attempted to tie the game at 10 on a sacrifice fly. Replays seem to indicate that Mountaineer catcher Ray Guerrini missed the tag but the umpire called Skoug out.
The Horned Frogs would finally tie the game after closer Blake Smith allowed back to back signles to lead off the ninth inning. TCU tied the game on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Ryan Merrill.
In the top of the tenth inning, with the score still tied 10-10, Freshman of the Year Luken Baker stepped to the plate against the hard throwing Smith and launched a fly ball into the stratosphere and a 11-10 lead for TCU.
Baker bomb! @TCU_Baseball's Luken Baker smashes his 4th HR of the #Big12BSB Champ to put the Frogs ahead, 11-10. ⚾️ https://t.co/StGNEUmGHT
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 29, 2016
You can see the full box score here. TCU earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Mountaineers will find out their fate tomorrow at noon on ESPNU or the WatchESPN app.