West Virginia was looking to secure their third straight Big 12 series win on Saturday afternoon in Waco, and used a complete game shutout from starting pitcher Blaine Traxel along with a late offensive explosion to take the series with a 10-0 victory.
Starting pitcher Blaine Traxel was excellent once again on Saturday afternoon, pitching a complete game shutout to save the WVU bullpen who has pitched a lot of innings lately. Traxel gave up six hits and struck out six Baylor hitters while walking zero. Traxel lowered his season ERA to 3.05 with the performance.
West Virginia scored only two runs through the first seven innings of the game, but a three run eighth inning followed by a five run ninth inning gave the Mountaineers some insurance runs along with a dominant 10-0 win.
Tevin Tucker went hitless for the third straight game, but was on base four times through walks and scored two runs. JJ Wetherholt hit his 10th home run of the season in a three hit performance, with two RBI’s, two runs and a walk. Grant Hussey added a home run in the ninth inning, his team-leading 11th of the season.
West Virginia threatened in the first inning, loading the bases with no outs after two walks and a single. Three straight strikeouts ended the inning with zero runs for the Mountaineers, and a 1-2-3 inning from Traxel had a 0-0 tie after one.
WVU loaded the bases again in the second inning, again through two walks and a single, this time with one out Wetherholt grounded out to the pitcher but there was no play at the plate and West Virginia opened the scoring leading 1-0 after two.
Traxel allowed his first hit of the afternoon in the bottom of the third inning on a lead-off single by Daniel Altman, but retired the next three Bears hits in order to hold the slim 1-0 lead.
Traxel allowed only three hits in the next three innings as the Mountaineers were unable to add insurance runs, but broke through in the seventh inning on a lead-off home run by JJ Wetherholt to double their advantage.
WVU added more much needed insurance runs in the top of the eighth after a bases loaded walk, hit by pitch and balk scored three runs without recording a hit and pushed West Virginia’s lead to 5-0.
Grant Hussey led off the top of the ninth with a home run for WVU, then the bases were loaded again to set up another hit by pitch to score a run, followed by a dropped fly ball to score three more Mountaineers and take a 10-0 lead.
Traxel finished off his dazzling performance in the bottom of the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out one and finishing his first complete game shutout of the season.
The Mountaineers will go for the sweep over the Bears on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark.
