WVU Wins Home Opener
March 10, 2004 06:31 PM | General
March 10, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore Stan Posluszny smacked two home runs to lead West Virginia to an 8-3 victory over Quinnipiac in the Mountaineers’ home opener at Hawley Field Wednesday afternoon.
The victory snaps a seven-game losing streak for West Virginia, now 2-7.
After defeating Old Dominion to begin the season, West Virginia dropped consecutive games to The Citadel, Marist, UNC Wilmington, Minnesota, Florida State and Nebraska. Florida State and Nebraska are ranked in this week’s USA Today/Baseball Weekly Coaches Poll while Minnesota and Richmond are both receiving votes.
On Wednesday, Posluszny was one of three WVU players to go deep in the sixth to overcome a 2-1 Bobcat lead. Shortstop Grant Psomas led off the inning with his third home run of the season to left. One out later, Posluszny followed suit with a solo shot to right knocking out Quinnipiac starter Chris Gresh.
After reliever Joe Dolhon walked Kurtis Clinton, Tim Edmeads delivered a blast over the left center field fence driving in Clinton and giving the Mountaineers a 5-2 advantage.
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| West Virginia's Stan Posluszny celebrates with his teammates after beating Quinnipiac 8-3 Wednesday afternoon in Morgantown. Posluszny smacked two home runs for the Mountaineers. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
West Virginia plated a run in the seventh when Lee Fritz singled in Grant Psomas, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and tacked on two more in the eighth when Posluszny hit his second home run of the day (third of the year) and Mike Christoforo singled in Travis D’Amico, who doubled to left.
WVU starter Shawn Miller picked up his second win of the year by going 7 1/3 innings, scattering two earned runs on four hits. Miller, now 2-2, struck out seven and walked three.
Ryan Lipscomb pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up a run on one hit.
“It feels good to get a win,” said West Virginia coach Greg Van Zant. “I was really happy to see Shawn Miller settle down and pitch a good game after having a couple of rough starts to begin the season.”
Gresh was tagged with three earned runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Posluszny and Kurtis Clinton had two hits each for the Mountaineers; WVU had 10 hits for the afternoon.
Quinnipiac, which defeated Virginia earlier this week, drops to 1-4. Centerfielder Albert Marano led the Bobcats with two hits.
“I was very impressed with Quinnipiac and I can see how they beat Virginia,” said Van Zant. “Their starting pitcher threw 13 innings last year and he went out there today like a veteran.”
West Virginia now improves to 29-5 in home openers at new Hawley Field.
The two teams will complete the series tomorrow.
