West Virginia Fights Back to Take Opener from Baylor

A two-out RBI double in the eighth from Evan Smith carries Mountaineers in the series opener versus the Bears

Waco, TX - West Virginia (31-11, 9-4) jumped out to a 3-0 lead until relinquishing the lead and allowing four Baylor unanswered run before a two-RBI double from Evan Smith in the eighth carried the Mountaineers past the Bears (15-27, 6-13) in the series opener 5-4. 

West Virginia jumped out to a 2-0 lead when, with two outs, Landon Wallace took a pitch to the back, Caleb McNeely drew a walk, and runners advanced after Wallace slid feet first into third on a steal attempt and knocked the ball out of the glove. Then, Dayne Leonard delivered the two-RBI single for the two run-advantage in the top of the first inning. 

Braden Barry hit a one-out double in the second and Sam White hit an infield single to place runners at the corners before Tevin Tucker laid down the sacrifice bunt to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 advantage. 

Baylor produced a run in the bottom half of the inning after Walter Polk hit a leadoff single, Cortlan Castle took his place at first with a fielder's choice, then Jack Johnson put runners at the corners with a single into right-centerfield and John Ceccoli brought the run in on a sacrifice fly.

A two out RBI double from Ceccoli in the fourth pulled the Bears within a run.

In the sixth, Polk delivered his second leadoff of the night and Castle doubled down the left field line to put a pair of Bears runners aboard. A fielder's choice placed runners at the corners, then with two outs, Sunseri ripped a two-RBI double down the third baseline line and into the corner as Baylor claimed a 4-3 lead. 

In the top of the eighth, Grant Hussey took second on a dropped deep high fly ball to left field, then Braden Barry worked a two-out walk before Evan Smith pulled a double down the right field line, scoring two as the Mountaineers regained the lead 5-4. 

West Virginia reliever Aidan Major took the mound in the seventh and retired six consecutive Baylor batters to collect the win and Carlson Reed grabbed the ball in the ninth and retired the side for the save as the Mountaineers grabbed game one from the Bears 5-4. 

The Mountaineers look to clinch the series in game two Saturday afternoon with the first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. EST and streaming on ESPN+.

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