West Virginia Falls Short of Series Sweep vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State

The Mountaineers bullpen allowed six runs in the eighth as West Virginia drops the series finale vs. 14th-ranked Cowboys.

Stillwater, OK - After taking the first two games, the West Virginia Mountaineers (25-11, 5-4) dropped the series finale 11-6 to the No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys (24-13, 8-7) Sunday afternoon after a six-run eighth inning from OSU.

The West Virginia offense got off to a hot start posting three runs in the top of the first, beginning with a leadoff single from Tevin Tucker hit a leadoff single, Landon Wallace followed with a walk and Dayne Leonard hit a deep fly ball to right field to advance both the runners before Caleb McNeely brought the first run across with a single. Then, Ellis Garcia ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line as the Mountaineers grabbed the 3-0 lead. 

Oklahoma State tied the game in the second when Marcus Brown blasted a three-run home run and solo home runs from Roc Riggio and Chase Adkinson gave the Cowboys a 5-3 advantage after three innings. 

West Virginia freshman starting pitcher Robby Porco's day ended after three innings, allowing five runs on six hits. Head coach Randy Mazey called in freshman lefty Maxx Yehl and gave his skipper 2.1 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit before sophomore right-hander Keegan Allen stepped onto the mound with the sixth with one out to finish the inning. 

Sophomore Grant Hussey lifted a leadoff home run in the seventh to get the Mountaineers within a run. Then, with two outs, Oklahoma State head coach called in the redshirt freshman lefty Drew Blake. Mazey countered, taking out the left-handed batter Logan Sauve for the righty Zach Ramppen and he delivered the RBI single back up the middle to tie the game at five. 

The Mountaineers reclaimed the lead in the eighth when Tevin Tucker delivered his third leadoff hit of the afternoon and Landon Wallace moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt on a walk, then Dayne Leonard drove an RBI double to give WVU a 6-5 advantage.

West Virginia reliever David Hagaman took the ball in the seventh and struck out the side but in the bottom of the eighth, an infield single started a string of three consecutive hits capped off by an RBI single from Tyler Wulfert to tie the game. The, Hagam walked the bases loaded Colin Brueggemann ripped a two-RBI single, ending Hagaman's afternoon.

Kevin Dowdell looked to get the Mountaineers out of the jam, but on the first pitch, Roc Riggio delivered an RBI single. Dowdell walked the bases loaded before beaning an Oklahoma State batter for another Cowboy run.

Jake Carr came in for Dowdell, and on the 2-2 pitch, David Mendham hit a deep ground ball over to short for an RBI single to cap off a six-run eighth inning and secured the salvaging series win 11-6. 

West Virginia is back in action Wednesday night as the Mountaineers travel north to take on the rival Pitt Panthers at PNC Park with the first pitch set for 6:00 p.m.

You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us Twitter:

Facebook - @MountaineersNow

Twitter - @MountaineersNow and Christopher Hall @WVHallBilly