ARLINGTON, Texas – Sixth-seeded Texas Tech (38-19) advanced past third-seeded West Virginia (39-17) 6-2 in the final game of the opening round of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Globe Life Field on Wednesday.
The Red Raiders’ offense capitalized on six base-on-balls and tallied 11 hits, including a pair of solo home runs to knock off the higher-seeded Mountaineers.
After being retired in the first inning the Red Raiders scored at least one run in each of the next five frames.
A one-out RBI single off the bat of Hudson White delivered the game’s first tally, scoring Austin Green, who led off the frame with a free pass. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bags with the visitors, Nolen Hester worked a two-out walk to double the advantage.
Texas Tech’s home run leader Gavin Kash added another solo home run in the third for a 3-0 lead and tied him for ninth on the all-time single-season Big 12 home run list with 24.
White led the fourth with a single and came around to score three batters later when Hester dumped a base knock into right center.
Caleb McNeely tallied West Virginia’s first run with a two-out solo shot to left center.
Texas Tech nudged its advantage back four when Green led off with a drive over the right field barrier. The Red Raiders tacked on another run in the sixth when Tracer Lopez scored from third on a balk.
McNeely opened the home seventh with a leadoff single and came around to score his second run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Tevin Tucker.
Texas Tech starting pitcher Mason Molina (5-2) got the win, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
Junior RHP Brandon Beckel earned his sixth career save with three scoreless frames. He surrendered a pair of singles and punched out four.
Redshirt freshman David Hagaman’s (0-1) started on the bump for the Mountaineers, the first of his career. He struck out seven and allowed six hits over 4.0 innings and took the loss.
Texas Tech and Oklahoma meet in the winner’s bracket Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. West Virginia and Oklahoma State will face off in an elimination game Thursday at 12:30 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 24
Game 1 – No. 4 TCU 16, No. 5 Kansas State 3, (7 inn.) – 9 a.m. – ESPNU
Game 2 – No. 8 Kansas 6, No. 1 Texas 3– 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 3 – No. 7 Oklahoma 9, No. 2 Oklahoma State 5 – 4 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 4 – No. 6 Texas Tech 6, No. 3 West Virginia 2 – 7:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Thursday, May 25
Game 5 – No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Kansas State – 9 a.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 6 – No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3 West Virginia – 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 7 – No. 4 TCU vs. No. 8 Kansas – 4 p.m. – ESPNU
Game 8 – No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Oklahoma – 7:30 p.m. – ESPNU
Friday, May 26
Game 9 – Game 7 Loser vs. Game 5 Winner – 3 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 10 – Game 8 Loser vs. Game 6 Winner – 6:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Saturday, May 27
Game 11 – Game 9 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner – 9 a.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 12 – Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner – 12:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 13 – Game 11 Loser vs. Game 11 Winner (if necessary) – 4 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Game 14 – Game 12 Loser vs. Game 12 Winner (if necessary) – 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Sunday, May 28
Game 15 – Championship Game – 5 p.m. – ESPNU
