GRANVILLE — There was an unexpected offensive power outage inside Mon County Ballpark on Friday.
It had nothing to do with the lights, just West Virginia’s inability to come up with any hits when the opportunity came to score runs.
The 12th-ranked Mountaineers stranded 10 runners and struck out 14 times — eight with at least a runner on base — as Texas Tech took Game 1 of the series with a 5-2 victory.
“Normally, if we hold a team to five runs, we’re going to win,” WVU manager Randy Mazey said.
That would be especially true against a team like Texas Tech (35-16, 10-9 Big 12), which has built its success this season mainly from being the highest-scoring team in the conference, averaging just over nine runs per game.
Except on Friday, Texas Tech pitchers Mason Molina, Ethan Coombes and Brandon Beckel combined to give up just six hits and two runs to go along with the 14 strikeouts.
Beckel, who earned his fifth save of the season, struck out Landon Wallace looking with two runners on in the ninth to end the game.
It was the third time this season the Mountaineers (37-13, 13-6 Big 12) struck out at least 14 times this season.
“They’re the scariest team in the league,” Mazey said of the Red Raiders. “They actually pitched better than they hit tonight, which is not like them. They’re more scary offensively than they are on the mound, but they did a good job.”
Trailing 3-2 in the fifth inning, West Virginia left the bases loaded when Dayne Leonard struck out.
The seventh saw two untraditional strikeouts, as Tevin Tucker was rung up after failing to get a bunt down with two strikes and Braden Barry was given his third strike by the home plate umpire after a pitch-clock violation.
“I don’t know. I don’t think anybody knows,” Mazey said when asked about the pitch-clock rule.
The clock has been used in college baseball since 2011.
WVU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Ellis Garcia hit a two-out double that scored Leonard and Caleb McNeely, but that was all the Mountaineers would get.
Texas Tech took the lead in the fourth when Kevin Brazzell led off with a home run and Ty Coleman scored teammate Gavin Kash with a goundout RBI.
The Red Raiders added two insurance runs in the ninth when Austin Green doubled home two runs, but Beckel had the game well in hand without them.
The Texas Tech junior went four innings and allowed no runs and two hits. He struck out seven.
“He throws multiple pitches for strikes and changes speed,” Mazey said of Beckel. “He uses both sides of the plate. He does everything a pitcher is supposed to do to control a good offensive team.”
The offensive showdown between Kash and WVU’s JJ. Wetherholt never materialized, although two games still remain, with Saturday’s game scheduled for 4 p.m.
Wetherholt beat the shift to the right side of the infield with a single in the first inning and was walked in the seventh. Otherwise, he hit three balls hard, but right at Texas Tech defenders.
While Kash scored the go-ahead run in the fourth, it came after he drew a walk. He was hitless in his other three appearances.
WVU’s Ben Hampton (5-2) took the loss, but was solid for five innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. Aidan Major pitched the final four innings and allowed two runs on four hits.
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