Baseball: WVU Cruises Past Coastal Carolina
March 04, 2006 06:03 PM | General
March 4, 2006
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| Eric Saffell |
CONWAY, S.C. – The West Virginia University baseball team used a seven run sixth inning to top Coastal Carolina, 10-3, on Saturday, March 4, in WVU’s second game at the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C.
Coastal (3-9) came back from an early 3-0 deficit to tie the game, 3-3, in the third inning. WVU (6-2) then blew the game wide open in the sixth, scoring seven runs all with two outs.
The scoring got started when centerfielder Adam White knocked a 3-2 pitch into right field to plate Kyle Matuszek, giving WVU a 4-3 edge. Ahead 5-3, WVU shortstop Doug Nelms pulled a 3-1 pitch down the left field line for a double to bring two more runners across the plate, increasing the lead to 7-3. The Chanticleer pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone, walking the next three batters before Austin Markel was hit by a pitch. WVU added the last run of the inning on an error to leave the score at 10-3.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Eric Saffell (2-0) kept Chanticleer hitters off balance all game after coming in to relieve starter Levi Maxwell in the third inning. Saffell pitched a solid seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out three. The Bluefield, W.Va., native threw 54 strikes on 79 pitches.
Preseason all-BIG EAST pick Nelms went 3 for 5 with a double and three RBIs, while White finished 3 for 5 with a double and one RBI, extending his hitting streak to seven games. Stan Posluszny batted 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs also for WVU. Posluszny now has a team-leading 12 RBIs through eight games.
Coastal’s Mike Valter (0-1) allowed three earned runs in 4.1 innings and gets his first loss of the season.
The Mountaineers are now 1-1 in the Coastal Carolina Tournament after losing 5-4 to Furman (6-4) on Friday. WVU will take on Coastal Carolina again Sunday, March 5, at 1 p.m.
