Mountaineers Drop Series Finale vs. Longhorns

Texas Longhorns: 10

#17 West Virginia Mountaineers: 2

Kade Strowd and Brock Helverson had poor days on the mound, and the Mountaineers never really had a chance to get back into the ballgame after falling behind early, eventually falling 10-2. WVU came into Sunday looking for a sweep after winning the first two games of the series, but Texas came out guns blazin’.

WVU only led for a half-inning in this one, as Texas put two runs up in the bottom of the 2nd after Marques Inman scored on a Phillip Dull groundout in the top of the inning.

After UT scored again in the 3rd, TJ Lake got the Mountaineers back within one after a 4th inning RBI single that scored Inman for the second time. However, this was Texas’ game from here on out.

They added 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, knocking Strowd from the game and extending their lead to 6-2.

Strowd got roughed up again. He lasted only 3.0 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks. He also struck out 3. After 3 straight lackluster performances, it’s probably time for Coach Mazey to begin to think about replacing him with Nick Snyder (5-1, 2.45 ERA), the typical midweek starter who has been great this season. We’ll see if Snyder makes his scheduled start on Tuesday vs. Marshall. If he doesn’t, that will likely signal he’s being slotted as next Sunday’s starter vs. TCU.

Freshman Brock Helverson entered in the 6th inning and surrendered a grand slam to Longhorn 2B Lance Ford, effectively putting the game out of reach at 10-2.

WVU will be back at Monongalia County Ballpark on Tuesday night to host our little brother from Huntington (23-20) (10-11 CUSA) in a game starting at 6:30PM. West Virginia beat Marshall 15-3 last month down in Charleston. There is inclement weather in the forecast for that afternoon, so we’ll have to wait and see if that game is actually played or not.

After that, the TCU Horned Frogs (23-19) (6-9) will come to town for a series next weekend, the second to last Big XII series of the regular season for WVU.

We’ll see the Mountaineers in the Top 25 rankings again this coming week after yet another series victory. I’d project we’re going to be in the #15-18 range this coming week.

Let’s go, Mountaineers!