Baseball: Mountaineers Take a Pair
February 23, 2008 07:38 PM | General
February 23, 2008
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Junior Austin Markel hit two home runs to lead the West Virginia (2-1) baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over Akron (1-2), today, at Ernie Shore Stadium.
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| Vince Belnome waits on a pitch from Josh Whitlock in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Akron at Ernie Shore Stadium.
Allison Hoehn photo |
In game one, Akron’s Kevin Hass scored a run in the top of the first inning, after he hit a double down the left field line. Hass then advanced to third on a Whitlock wild pitch and was drove in Kurt Davidson, who grounded out to Jedd Gyorko.
Akron’s Drew Tuorcy and Phil Bednar crossed the plate for the Zips in the top of the second inning, before Markel hit a home run over right field, his first of the season, and close the inning with a 3-1 lead for the Zips.
The Mountaineers came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting six doubles in eight hits, scoring nine runs, vaulting WVU into the lead, 10-3. With Markel on third and Tobias Streich on second, Grant Buckner doubled down the left field line to drive in two.
Buckner then scored off of an RBI double by junior Joe Agreste, who then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mark Dvoroznak. Senior Tyler Kuhn then hit a double to right field, driving home Agreste for the fifth run of the game. Gyorko doubled to left field to plate Kuhn, before scoring off of an RBI by Chris Enourato.
With Vince Belnome on third, Markel singled to right field to drive in Kuhn, and Enourato advanced to third base. Streich flew out to score Enourato, before Buckner doubled to left center, recording an RBI and the ninth run of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Markel hit his second home run over the right fielder’s head to record the sixth of his career, putting the Mountaineers up 11-3 to provide the final margin.
Markel finished the game with four runs, which surpassed his record of three set on March 10, 2006 against St. Peter’s. His two home runs also set a new personal best for the junior.
Whitlock earned the win for the Mountaineers, pitching five innings. The junior allowed three runs in 19 batters faced.
Akron’s Zach Yike took the loss in 3.1 inning pitched. The Zip allowed eight hits and six runs in 15 at bats.
In game two, the Zips took an early lead when Brett Savage scored off of a Doug McNulty RBI single in the top of the first inning.
The Zips held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning. Streich walked , Kuhn bunted and reached first on a fielder’s choice, before Belnome came up to bat and singled. Markel was hit by a pitch and helped the Mountaineers tie the score, 1-1.
With the score tied, the Mountaineers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pinch-hitter senior Jordon Yost flew out to left field, allowing Gyorke to cross the plate, giving the Mountaineers the win.
Sophomore closer Chris Enourato earned the win in two innings with just one hit and facing nine batters.
Akron pitcher Garrett Knoll took the loss also in two innings, allowing three hits and one run and eight batters faced.
WVU and Akron will play the final game of the series, tomorrow, at Ernie Shore Stadium. First pitch is at Noon.
