Baseball: Mountaineers Travel to Take on Terps
May 07, 2007 02:50 PM | General
May 7, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After battling into the bottom of the ninth inning against Villanova on Sunday, May 6, to take a 5-4 win and avoid a road sweep, the Mountaineers will travel to College Park, Md., for game two of a home-and-home series against the Terrapins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8.
West Virginia (25-18, 7-13) and Maryland (25-27) met earlier this season on April 24 in front of a record 1,174 fans at Hawley Field. The Mountaineers shelled the Terps 13-2 with the help of two doubles from shortstop Tyler Kuhn and one home run each from first baseman Jordon Yost and designated hitter Trent Ridgley. WVU starter Josh Whitlock struck out seven while walking only two to earn his sixth win of the season.
On Sunday, it was Brent Lockhart’s diving catch in game three versus the Wildcats that saved West Virginia from being swept and kept the team’s BIG EAST Tournament hopes alive. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Villanova had two runners in scoring position. Derek Shunk stepped up to bat and drove a line drive to left field that looked like it was going for a base hit. Lockhart made the crucial catch to give the Mountaineers the final out and the win.
Left fielder Justin Jenkins is batting .393 on the season with 43 RBI and 21 doubles. Right-handed pitcher Whitlock is boasting a 3.77 ERA with 57 strikeouts after 57.1 innings of work.
Maryland enters midweek competition after being swept at home by Florida State. The Seminoles outscored the Terrapins 32-10 over three games en route to FSU’s 10th sweep of the season. Heading the Terrapin offense is AJ Casario. The freshman catcher is batting .320 on the year with 27 RBI. Southpaw Brett Cecil is sporting a 2.88 ERA with 59 strikeouts and eight saves after 56.1 total innings.
