Baseball: Cline Pitches WVU to a Split
March 13, 2004 08:59 PM | General
March 13, 2004
 |
||
| Cline |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Even though West Virginia split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Stony Brook, Mountaineer coach Greg Van Zant was encouraged with the way No. 1 starter Zac Cline pitched in the first game, a 6-0 WVU victory.
“Zac was pretty sharp,” said Van Zant.
Cline gave up just three hits and struck out five in recording his third career shutout victory. The lefthander got plenty of run support with the Mountaineers collecting two runs in the second, single runs in the third and fifth, and two more in the sixth.
Stan Posluszny and Kurtis Clinton banged out two hits each for the Mountaineers in the first game.
“I felt pretty good today,” said Cline. “I was missing out with my fastball a little bit so that’s something I need to kind of tweak before my next outing,” he aid. “I was keeping it down and I was able to mix my changeup with my fastball and keeping their hitters off balance for most of the game.”
Cline has been slowed by a plantars wart on his right foot and it happened right around the same time his grandmother died. That has caused him to make just one appearance during the first three weeks of the season. And because of that Van Zant has been very cautious with his ace lefty, bring him along slowly.
“I’ve just been trying to ease back in with my throwing,” said Cline. “I’m starting to feel a little better each time I throw. I felt great today so I’m thankful for that.”
Cline’s first outing of the season came last Saturday against No. 21 Florida State in the Metrodome where he gave up three earned runs in four innings pitched.
“Zac didn’t pitch that badly against Florida State,” Van Zant admitted.
“People ask me why our team ERA is so high this year (7.41 after today’s doubleheader) and the reason is because our best pitcher has only thrown four innings before today’s game,” the coach added.
Cline, a junior, is considered one of the top two returning pitchers in the Big East along with Boston College’s Chris Lambert. Cline went 12-3 last year as a junior and came into this season tied with N.C. State’s Michael Rogers with the nation’s fifth-best returning record.
A preseason all-Big East and honorable mention All-American by CollegeBaseballInsider.com, Cline (1-1) is legitimate pro prospect ranked one of the six best overall prospects in the conference by Baseball America.
“I’ve been getting some interest for sure but that’s just something I kind of just have to let happen,” he said. “Every time out I just try and get better and give the team a chance to win. If I do that then everything else will take care of itself.”
For West Virginia to make a return trip to the Big East tournament this season, Cline is going to have to pitch the same way he did today.
“He just controlled the game today,” said Van Zant.
One positive during his absence was the fact that the Mountaineers were able to get some younger pitchers valuable experience pitching in big-time environments. Cline believes that will pay big dividends down the road.
“I think the more they can get out there the more they’ll help us. They’re in kind of a tough spot because we need them this year but it’s going to do a world of good for them to get out there,” he said.
In today’s nightcap, freshman Levi Maxwell was touched up for eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Maxwell shows a 13.22 ERA in four appearances this year, but has pitched against some tough early competition.
Fellow freshman Wes Osbourn picked up his first collegiate victory against Quinnipiac on Thursday and shows a 6.00 earned run average in 19 2/3 innings of work. Those two join freshman Travis McGrath as the tree main candidates for the third spot in the weekend rotation.
“I don’t know if (Van Zant) really has his mind set on one guy yet but I think there’s a lot of good guys who are candidates for that third spot,” said Cline. “Wes pitched well the other day but obviously Levi and Travis are good pitchers, too. Hopefully someone kind of emerges and takes over and fills that spot for us.”
Junior righthander Chris Amedro is another possibility for the third starting spot in the rotation and may also be used out of the bullpen to finish games. Amedro has worked his way back to full strength after being slowed with shoulder problems during the off season. Amedro and McGrath are available for tomorrow’s game.
Junior righthander Shawn Miller, 2-2, is the team’s other weekend starter.
Stony Brook’s Jon Lewis shut down West Virginia in the second game, limiting the Mountaineers to just two runs on seven hits. Lewis struck out nine and walked just two to help the Sea Wolves to a 9-2 victory.
First baseman Dave Mischo collected three hits including a two-run homer to right center off the scoreboard during Stony Brook’s two-run fifth.
Shortstop Grant Psomas and catcher David Carpenter had two hits each for WVU in the second game. West Virginia drops to 4-8 after today’s games while Stony Brook improves to 6-6.
The two teams will wrap up the series Sunday with a single game at 1 pm. WWVU FM-92 will carry the game live in Morgantown as well as on the Internet through U-92’s web site. A link will be provided on the main page.
