AUSTIN, Texas --Junior center fielder KC Huth drew a two-out bases loaded walk in the 10th inning to plate the game-winning run as West Virginia won 7-6 at No. 16 Texas on Saturday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Mountaineers and Longhorns went into extra innings for the second game in a row with West Virginia coming out on top and evening the series to bring its record to 8-7 overall, including a 1-1 mark in Big 12 play.
“When the game was on the line we had so many guys step up huge,” coach Randy Mazey said. “Justin Fox making a play down the line, Shane Ennis was unbelievable, KC Huth had an unbelievable at bat to draw that walk and Ray Guerrini in the at bat before KC.
“I don’t think anybody in our dugout thought we weren’t going to win that game, even when they came back and tied it because we were having good at bats all night long.”
Sophomore left fielder Kyle Davis was on first with two outs in the top of the 10th following a single, and senior designated hitter Cam O’Brien and sophomore catcher Ray Guerrini each had singles to load the bases. Huth came to the plate and battled through a seven-pitch at bat to walk and score Davis.
Davis, O’Brien, senior shortstop Taylor Munden and sophomore Jackson Cramer had two hits apiece to lead WVU at the plate.
In only his third career appearance, freshman right-hander Shane Ennis picked up the victory, pitching 2.2 innings of no-hit, shutout relief. Ennis struck out two and walked one.
“He made some unbelievable pitches. We brought him in the meat of their lineup and this is Texas,” Mazey said. “Shane Ennis, a freshman from Romney, West Virginia, pitching in Austin, Texas and doing outstanding things.”
Junior left-hander Ross Vance took a no-decision in 7.1 innings. Vance allowed six runs, four earned, on 10 hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
West Virginia scored runs in each of the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead.
A balk by Texas starter Josh Sawyer put runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first and Davis made Sawyer pay, smacking a two-run single to left field. Munden singled to lead off the game and senior right fielder Brad Johnson walked prior to Davis’ single.
West Virginia then used small ball to score three runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning.
O’Brien was hit by a pitch to lead off the second and was sacrificed to second by Guerrini. Munden then singled up the middle to score O’Brien from second base. Following a single by senior third baseman Justin Fox, Cramer singled through the right side and the ball went under the glove of the Texas right fielder, allowing Munden and Fox to score easily to complete the three-run inning.
O’Brien drove in a run of his own to make it 6-0 in the top of the third with a single to left center field, scoring Davis. Davis walked to lead off the inning and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Shaun Corso.
Texas then scored runs in four-straight innings to tie the game at 6-6 after six innings.
Collin Shaw hit a solo home run and Tayor Stell smacked an RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-2 in the third inning and fourth inning, respectively.
Texas used a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing the Longhorns within two runs. Following back-to-back walks to C.J. Hinojosa and Tres Barrera, Michael Cantu doubled to right center field.
Texas completed the comeback to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of errors by Corso. Bret Boswell scored from second base on a fielding error as Corso attempted to cover first on a sacrifice bunt. Corso then made a throwing error on a double play ball, allowing Stell to score the game-tying run.
