MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (April 1, 2021) – The West Virginia University baseball team opened its three-game road series at No. 16 Oklahoma State with a 4-3 win on Thursday night in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Freshman infielder Mikey Kluska’s three-run home run in the top of the fourth proved to be the difference in the one-run victory. The Mountaineers finished with four runs on six hits with an error, while the Cowboys tallied three runs on 10 hits with an error. Senior left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf was sharp again in the win, earning his third victory of the year. Additionally, sophomore right-hander Jacob Watters nailed down his second save of the year at the end of the night.
WVU fought off three late threats by the Cowboys in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to claim its first Big 12 road win of the 2021 campaign.
“Tonight was a great win,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “Jackson pitched really well, and we pitched great out of the bullpen. We’ve always played pretty well down here in Stillwater, and that’s a really good win against a really good team. It’s just really great to be back.”
Oklahoma State (16-7-1, 4-3 Big 12) struck first in the bottom of the first inning, collecting back-to-back two-out hits off Wolf to take a 1-0 lead. However, WVU (11-9, 3-1 Big 12) drew even in the top of the third when freshman outfielder Braden Barry singled to center, before he came around to score thanks to an OSU throwing error later in the frame.
Then, the Mountaineers grabbed the lead in the fourth with Kluska’s three-run homer to left. The White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, native’s third big fly of the season gave WVU a 4-1 advantage.
Kluska finished 2-for-4 in the win.
Wolf, meanwhile, cruised through his first six innings of work. The reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week tallied seven strikeouts through the first six frames, holding the Cowboy offense to just three hits. Then, in the seventh, Wolf’s night came to an end after OSU loaded the bases with one out.
Oklahoma State plated two in the seventh but left the bases loaded. Redshirt sophomore right-hander Noah Short and sophomore righty Jacob Watters teamed up out of the bullpen to get the final two outs of the inning, helping WVU hold onto a one-run lead at 4-3.
Wolf’s final line showed 6.1 innings of work, as he matched his career high with eight strikeouts. He allowed three runs on five hits.
Later, OSU used a pair of singles to get going in the eighth inning, before Watters was able to get out of the jam with an inning-ending double play. From there, the Cowboys tallied a two-out triple in the ninth and eventually got the winning run on base. That’s when Watters slammed the door with a strikeout to end it for WVU.
The Rocky Gap, Virginia, native finished with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. He didn’t allow a run and yielded three hits in 47 pitches.
“He pitched with conviction tonight,” Mazey said of Watters. “That’s what he needs to do. He took control of the game and really wanted to end it. When he does that, he’s pretty hard to beat.”
Along with Kluska, fifth-year senior first baseman/outfielder Hudson Byorick also tallied a pair of hits and scored a run.
With the win, the Mountaineers earned their first triumph over a ranked opponent this season. It also pushed West Virginia to 3-1 in conference play.
Next up, WVU and Oklahoma State battle in the middle game of the series on Friday night at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Freshman infielder Mikey Kluska’s three-run home run in the top of the fourth proved to be the difference in the one-run victory. The Mountaineers finished with four runs on six hits with an error, while the Cowboys tallied three runs on 10 hits with an error. Senior left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf was sharp again in the win, earning his third victory of the year. Additionally, sophomore right-hander Jacob Watters nailed down his second save of the year at the end of the night.
WVU fought off three late threats by the Cowboys in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to claim its first Big 12 road win of the 2021 campaign.
“Tonight was a great win,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “Jackson pitched really well, and we pitched great out of the bullpen. We’ve always played pretty well down here in Stillwater, and that’s a really good win against a really good team. It’s just really great to be back.”
Oklahoma State (16-7-1, 4-3 Big 12) struck first in the bottom of the first inning, collecting back-to-back two-out hits off Wolf to take a 1-0 lead. However, WVU (11-9, 3-1 Big 12) drew even in the top of the third when freshman outfielder Braden Barry singled to center, before he came around to score thanks to an OSU throwing error later in the frame.
Then, the Mountaineers grabbed the lead in the fourth with Kluska’s three-run homer to left. The White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, native’s third big fly of the season gave WVU a 4-1 advantage.
Kluska finished 2-for-4 in the win.
Wolf, meanwhile, cruised through his first six innings of work. The reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week tallied seven strikeouts through the first six frames, holding the Cowboy offense to just three hits. Then, in the seventh, Wolf’s night came to an end after OSU loaded the bases with one out.
Oklahoma State plated two in the seventh but left the bases loaded. Redshirt sophomore right-hander Noah Short and sophomore righty Jacob Watters teamed up out of the bullpen to get the final two outs of the inning, helping WVU hold onto a one-run lead at 4-3.
Wolf’s final line showed 6.1 innings of work, as he matched his career high with eight strikeouts. He allowed three runs on five hits.
Later, OSU used a pair of singles to get going in the eighth inning, before Watters was able to get out of the jam with an inning-ending double play. From there, the Cowboys tallied a two-out triple in the ninth and eventually got the winning run on base. That’s when Watters slammed the door with a strikeout to end it for WVU.
The Rocky Gap, Virginia, native finished with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. He didn’t allow a run and yielded three hits in 47 pitches.
“He pitched with conviction tonight,” Mazey said of Watters. “That’s what he needs to do. He took control of the game and really wanted to end it. When he does that, he’s pretty hard to beat.”
Along with Kluska, fifth-year senior first baseman/outfielder Hudson Byorick also tallied a pair of hits and scored a run.
With the win, the Mountaineers earned their first triumph over a ranked opponent this season. It also pushed West Virginia to 3-1 in conference play.
Next up, WVU and Oklahoma State battle in the middle game of the series on Friday night at O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
