MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU starting pitcher Jacob Watters struck out 15 batters in 6 and 1/3 innings, but the Mountaineers fell to No. 18 Texas in game one of their Saturday doubleheader, 5-2.
Watters left the game in the seventh inning after his 112th pitch with two Texas runners aboard in a 2-0 game. But the Longhorns brought both of those runners home to double their lead to 4-0. Watters allowed seven hits and walked one batter.
“If he would do that every time out, then we would still have a chance to do some things,” said WVU head coach Randy Mazey. “If he would come out and pitch like that the next two outings, it would give us a chance to win two more games in the league. It sure would help.”
West Virginia cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the seventh when Dayne Leonard connected on a two-run home run into the WVU bullpen.
Texas answered with a run in the eighth to take a 5-2 lead. UT starting pitcher Pete Hansen came within an out of a complete game. He struck out eight batters. The Mountaineers brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. However, Tristan Stevens induced a fly ball to end the game.
Braden Barry went 3-for-3 for the Mountaineers in the loss.