MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Houston entered its three-game series at No. 15 West Virginia the second-lowest scoring team among 14 in the Big 12 Conference.
The Mountaineers, meanwhile, had allowed 144 runs — the fewest of any team in the league.
You’d never have known based on Friday’s result.
The script flipped and the Cougars pounded out six extra-base hits among their 10 total, including a two-run home run from both Cade Climie and Blake Fields. Combined with a strong start from pitcher Kendall Hoffman, that was enough to propel Houston to a 10-7 victory over the Mountaineers in the series opener at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
WVU (25-9, 10-6) is now 2-4 in Big 12 series openers and 8-2 in its 10 other conference contests.
“We haven’t really been able to get the momentum going on Fridays,” Mountaineer coach Steve Sabins said. “Winning the Texas Tech Friday night game [last week] was awesome, because we haven’t done it a ton. You want to do that and have the momentum. At some point, you have to start series with wins.
“You go into postseason play and you have to start on the right foot. Maybe the guys respond well with their backs against the wall and that’s a good attribute to have, but we need to get off to better starts.”
Houston (17-19, 4-12) gained the lead for good with a four-run third inning that featured four hits and three in consecutive fashion — a run-scoring single from Xavier Perez, Riley Jackson’s run-scoring double and a two-run home run that Climie blasted 422 feet to right-center.
WVU answered with its first run in the home half of that inning, which Zahir Barjam scored on a Matt Ineich single.
The Mountaineers hurt their cause in the fifth when starting pitcher Dawson Montesa threw a wild pitch and an errant pickoff attempt that allowed Tre Broussard to advance from first to third.
Broussard scored shortly after when Jackson singled to third on a hard-hit ball that deflected off of Tyrus Hall.
While Houston built its lead, Hoffman prevented the Mountaineers from recording a hit in five of the first six innings.
“Early in counts, we took less than aggressive swings,” Sabins said. “There wasn’t any stress on him really throughout the game. We blasted some balls that didn’t find gaps and that’s baseball.”
The Cougars added to their advantage in the seventh, which featured more defensive miscues, including Perez reaching on an Ineich error after Broussard’s double.
Jackson then laid down a bunt that was misplayed by Armani Guzman at first, and the fielder’s choice led to Broussard scoring his team’s sixth run.
“Those kind of stack up against teams in our league and it’s difficult to win,” Sabins said.
Two batters later, Fields belted a two-run double to left-center that marked the end of the outing for relief pitcher Carson Estridge.
WVU battled back in the home half of the seventh starting with Hall’s leadoff home run.
When Ineich singled home Matthew Graveline with two outs, the Cougars elected to bring in Richie Roman and Hoffman’s replacement.
Roman initially struggled with his control and issued consecutive walks on full count pitches to Gavin Kelly and Paul Schoenfeld, the latter of which forced in a run.
A catcher’s interference with the bases loaded that awarded Sean Smith first base made it 8-5, before Roman struck out Hall to end the inning with his team on top by three.
Fields crushed a two-run home run to left off David Perez in the ninth, and it proved important when the Mountaineers got two back in the ninth on Smith’s single to right.
Hoffman was charged with five runs, four of which were earned, over 6.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
“He was attacking us with aggression and got us out of our approach a little bit,” Ineich said. “Usually, we’re able to make adjustments quickly. We didn’t make adjustments as quickly as we needed.”
Fields drove in four and joined teammates Tyler Cox, Perez and Jackson with two-hit efforts.
Ineich led all players with three hits.
Montesa was charged with five runs, including four earned, over 4.1 innings. He struck out six and walked a pair.
“Fastball down is what they struggle with, but Dawson rides the fastball and pitches up in the zone,” Sabins said. “We may have called too many fastballs down and pitched to the scouting report too much instead of to the pitcher’s strengths.”
WVU’s Brodie Kresser pinch-hit in the ninth inning marking his first plate appearance since April 4 as he works his way back from injury.
“He’s been rehabbing his back and getting healthy. Today was the first time he’s taken full batting practice and played defense,” Sabins said. “I liked his bat speed. We need to bring him along and get him into a game.”
The teams meet again in Game 2 at 11 a.m. Saturday.