PITTSBURGH — West Virginia remained perfect playing at PNC Park.
Whatever level that’s a notch below perfect, well, that’s where WVU shortstop Tevin Tucker finds himself these days.
Tucker had three hits, two runs and two stolen bases Wednesday, as the Mountaineers erased a 4-0 deficit and ran away with a 9-4 victory against rival Pitt.
“People are seeing the real Tevin Tucker right now,” WVU manager Randy Mazey said. “He has just grinded out his whole career. Whenever he stopped worrying about his batting average, that’s when he started collecting hits.”
“Collecting” hits is one way to put it. Over his last 16 at-bats — a stretch that covers four games — Tucker has 12 hits.
If that’s not collecting, it’s downright hoarding, not that Tucker has honestly noticed all that much.
“I don’t look at the numbers, but they’re there,” he said. “Like my mom has said, I was in my own way, really. I just had to trust the process. What’s happening now, I’m just trying to have good at-bats. It’s not shocking to me. I work hard. It was just a matter of time.”
The Mountaineers (26-11) are 5-0 all-time at the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and they won their third straight against the Panthers (16-19).
None of that really compares to the tale Tucker is weaving this season, one that saw him added to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list, which goes to the nation’s top college shortstop.
In itself, Tucker’s career is a sort of WVU history book. The last time WVU made it to the NCAA tournament in 2019, he was the starting shortstop.
He now represents the lone player still standing on the Mountaineers’ roster from that moment.
“We’re having a lot of fun, just like that team did my freshman year,” Tucker said. “I see some similarities for sure.”
He was known as a slick fielder back in those days, while his offensive game centered around moving runners over and adding to the Mountaineers’ list of base stealers on the base path.
The smooth operator in the field, that part hasn’t left Tucker’s scouting report.
He made two plays up the middle that robbed Pitt batters of a base hit, then another on a one-hopper deep in the hole toward left field that took away another hit.
What Tucker’s added to his offensive game is as much surprising than it’s been impressive.
His batting average now sits at .368, an eye-opener, because he’s never hit higher than .199 over his previous three seasons.
“He’s like our point guard on a basketball team. He doesn’t need to score points to help our team win,” Mazey said. “Just leave the situation better after you hit than before you hit. He’s willing to do whatever it takes. When you show that willingness to do whatever it takes, you get rewarded for it.”
Caleb McNeely blasted a solo home run — his ninth of the season — into the center-field bullpen and he added two hits and two RBIs for the Mountaineers. Braden Barry also went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs.
Gavin Van Kempen (2-0) picked up the win in relief. He allowed two hits and no runs over two innings.
WVU played its third game without star J.J. Wetherholt, who Mazey still has listed as day-to-day with an injured left hand.
Mazey did say Wetherholt was available to pinch run in certain situations, but is not ready to play a whole game.
“We’re going to be smart with it,” Mazey said. “He’s too talented of a kid to go out there and rush him back in before he’s ready.”
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