WACO, Texas — John Means endured his worst start of the season and was knocked out during a nine-run second inning as Baylor steamrolled West Virginia 11-1 in the decisive game of a weekend series Sunday afternoon.
The Bears (16-16, 5-3 Big 12) rebounded from a 9-8 loss on Friday to win the final two games by a combined score of 19-1.
WVU (17-15, 4-5) approached the rubber game with Means (3-2) sporting a rotation-best 1.86 ERA and limiting opposing batters to a .203 average. But the sophomore left-hander registered only four outs while surrendering six earned runs on seven hits and four walks. His ERA jumped to 3.15.
The Mountaineers bullpen fared no better with Josh Harlow (three runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings) and Ryan Tezak (two runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings) struggling. Trailing 9-1, Jared Hill relieved Tezak with two outs in the seventh and two runners aboard and surrendered an Nathan Orf’s RBI single. Hill then hit Lawton Langford and Grayson Porter to force in the final run as Baylor invoked the mercy rule.
Ryan McBroom’s team-leading seventh homer of the season, a left-field shot in the fourth, provide WVU its only run.
That was the only blemish for Baylor’s Austin Stone (2-2), who allowed four hits in six innings.
Orf went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead Baylor, while Cal Towey had three hits.
Mitch Price led off the second-inning outburst with a solo homer, the first allowed by Means this season. Porter singled home two runs before Jake Miller and Brett Doe each recorded two-run doubles. Baylor collected eight hits and two walks in the inning.
WVU is scheduled to play a pair of midweek games — visiting Ohio State on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. and hosting Youngstown State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.— before traveling to Liberty for a three-game weekend series.
The Mountaineers’ next Big 12 series is April 19-21 at Texas.