Good Knight
May 23, 2003 11:45 PM | General
May 24, 2003
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Rutgers scored eight runs in the final four innings to defeat West Virginia, 8-7 in the elimination round of the Big East baseball tournament Friday night.
 |
||
| West Virginia players congratulate Eric Grimm on his first-inning home run against Virginia Tech in the first game Friday. (Steve Smith photo) |
The victory enables the Scarlet Knights (35-19) to advance to the Big East championship game to face meet Notre Dame (42-15) Saturday afternoon.
For the first four innings it looked like West Virginia was going to be the team playing Notre Dame for the league championship.
The Mountaineers plated two runs in the top of the second off Rutgers starter Aaron Kalb and was close to having a big inning. After a one-out walk, shortstop Grant Psomas tripled in Stan Posluszny. Psomas eventually scored on Jarod Rine’s single – one of four hits on the evening for the Big East co-player of the year.
With two runners on, Eric Grimm grounded into an inning-ending double play.
West Virginia tacked on its third run in the third inning. Tim McCabe walked and advanced to third on Jake Serfass’ double to left. McCabe then scored on Kurtis Clinton’s sacrifice fly to left.
McCabe made it 4-0 when he slugged his 10th home run of the year, becoming the first Mountaineer player in school history to hit 10 or more home runs three consecutive seasons.
After blanking Rutgers through four innings, West Virginia starter Jason DiAngelo ran into big trouble in the fifth. After striking out Mike Bionde, DiAngelo hit Graig Bader, walked Matt Wolski and hit Jeff Frazier to load the bases. DiAngelo then walked Vinny Esposito for Rutgers’ first run of the game.
Steve Normane flew out to center to score Wolski. DiAngelo was lifted after issuing his seventh walk of the game to Colin Cerulo to once again load the bases.
Johnny Defendis greeted Mountaineer reliever Ryan Lipscomb with a single up the middle to plate two more runs. Lipscomb finally got out of the inning when he retired Bionde on strikes.
Rutgers added three more runs in the seventh off Chris Amedro. The Knights got back-to-back singles from Gaylor and Defendis with one out. Gaylor scored on Biondi’s single and Badger knocked in both Defendis and Biondi with a sharp single to left.
Clinton cut into the Rutgers lead in the top of the eighth with a solo home run over the left field wall for his 13th homer of the year.
West Virginia made it interesting in the top of the ninth when McCabe connected for his second home run of the night – a two-run shot to right center that also plated Rine.
But Rutgers reliever Sean Atchison got Jake Serfass to strike out to end the game.
McCabe finished the contest 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI. West Virginia had 10 hits off two Rutgers pitchers.
The Knights also collected 10 hits, led by Defendis’ 3-for-4 performance.
Atchison pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits to improve his record to 5-1. DiAngelo took the loss and drops to 8-5.
With the loss, West Virginia (36-19) must now hope for an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament if it wishes its season to continue.
Rutgers and Notre Dame are most likely assured spots in the 64-team field by advancing to the conference championship game.
