MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — For two days Texas Tech’s lineup had stranded runners and failed to match its offensive norms.
That changed Saturday afternoon, when the Red Raiders went 7-for-11 with runners in scoring position and rolled 8-2 to salvage the final game of the series, spoiling West Virginia’s senior day in the process.
The Mountaineers (27-25, 9-12), who secured a birth in the Big 12 tournament by winning the first two games of the series 6-4 and 8-2, will learn their seeding Sunday when the rest of the league wraps up regular-season play.
Tyler Nelsony had three hits and two RBIs for the Red Raiders (30-22, 13-11), who locked up the No. 4 seed.
“I think (Texas Tech) showed today what they’re capable of offensively,” said WVU coach Randy Mazey said. You play Big 12 baseball, you face good teams. They’re capable of doing that every game.”
Some 1,697 fans were on hand as the Mountaineers finished with an 8-10 home record in the inaugural season at their new ballpark.
West Virginia freshman BJ Myers (2-5) left after 40 pitches and 2 2/3 innings. He was charged with four runs (three earned) on four hits.
Adam Keller and Shane Ennis surrendered two runs each before Connor Dotson, Brandon Boone, Jackson Sigman and Blake Smith finally shut down Texas Tech over the final four innings.
Ty Damron (4-2) pitched five innings of five-hit ball for the Red Raiders. The left-hander’s only rough patch came after Caleb Potter reached on a second-inning error. After KC Huth’s RBI triple, Garrett Hope’s groundout made it 2-0.
The Mountaineers wound up 0-of-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.
New Martinsville native Justin Fox finished with two doubles in his final home game.
West Virginia will open Big 12 tournament action Wednesday.