Baseball: Rutgers Takes Game One
April 07, 2006 07:22 PM | General
April 7, 2006
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| Carpenter |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The West Virginia University baseball team lost to Rutgers, 10-6, Friday, April 7, at the Class of 1953 Baseball Complex in Piscataway, N.J.
Rutgers was able to translate 12 hits into 10 runs on the day, while the Mountaineers could only manage six runs despite having 13 hits. Every WVU starter had at least one base-hit in the game.
“Rutgers played a great game and I was very impressed with their team,” head coach Greg Van Zant said. “They deserved to win the game, but I have full confidence that our guys will bounce back and take another shot at them tomorrow. Our goal is to try to win one game on this trip.”
West Virginia (25-5, 5-2 BIG EAST) got the offense rolling after a 1-2-3 first inning. After scoring two runs in the second to tie the score at 2-2, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the game with a run in the third. Justin Jenkins singled to second base and Stan Posluszny pulled a double down the right field allowing Jenkins to come all the way around to score.
The Scarlet Knights (11-14-1, 3-4 BIG EAST) fired right back in the bottom of the third with four runs on four hits to gain a 6-3 advantage. The inning was highlighted by a Steve Hook two-RBI double over Casey Bowling’s head in left field.
Things looked promising for the Mountaineers in the fifth with two on and no outs, but Rutgers’ pitcher Steve Holt was able to get Jenkins to ground into a double play and Posluszny to ground out to the shortstop to end the inning.
Rutgers added three more runs in the fifth to stretch its lead out to 9-3, but the Mountaineers wouldn’t go away easily as David Carpenter sent a three-run shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit back to three runs. Carpenter finished 3 for 4 with three RBI.
Trailing 10-6 in the eighth, the Mountaineers had one last shot to tie the game as Doug Nelms stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. But Rutgers’ reliever Joe Baione got Nelms to pop up to the catcher in foul territory.
Rutgers’ ace Steve Holt (4-3) got heavy run support and the win for the Scarlet Knights. Holt allowed six runs (four earned) on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work. Rutgers shortstop Todd Frazier led the Scarlet Knight attack, going 4 for 4 with a double and three runs scored.
Starter Joe Stupka (3-1) struggled to find his rhythm against Rutgers’ batters. Stupka went four innings, giving up six earned runs on six hits with four walks. Mountaineer pitcher Ryan Hill relieved Stupka in the fifth and pitched four innings with three strikeouts.
West Virginia and Rutgers will play game two on Saturday at 1 p.m.
