Texas Tech cant shake Manoah and WVU, Lose 5-1 Thursday

Welp.

Let me start by saying, No. 4 seeded WVU threw Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Alek Manoah, so you obviously got their absolute best today, and one of the best pitchers in the country. Manoah went eight innings strong, allowing one run on four hits and striking out 10. He kept the bats off balance and never seemed to get behind in counts.

Buried in the lead and overall recap might be the performance Caleb Kilian had. Kilian went seven innings with only giving up one run on two hits while striking out nine. This would be the second time Kilian has recorded nine strikeouts this season, the last being his complete game shutout of the same Mountaineers in Morgantown earlier this season.

The frustrating pill to swallow is that, while in large the bats couldn’t figure out Manoah, you could still say they had plenty of chances to get back in this game. Of the nine innings, Tech was able to get their leadoff hitter on in five.

I’m not an expert, but I think getting a guy on first with no outs to start an inning FIVE times is actually good and should result in more than one run in a nine inning game. But, again, not an expert.

Although I’m frustrated they lost, you have to go with the big picture here. You’re going to be a national seed regardless of your record in Oklahoma City. Manoah was masterful and WVU is a damn good baseball team this year. They, like you, have their sights set on Omaha, as well.

And (knocks on wood) no one has gotten injured in this Consolation Prize tournament.

Texas Tech will now play the 5th seeded Kansas Jayhawks in an elimination game Friday at 4pm.