Baseball: WVU Falls to Akron
February 24, 2008 04:33 PM | General
February 24, 2008
BOX SCORE
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - West Virginia University’s baseball team (2-2) fell to Akron (2-2), 3-2, at Ernie Shore Field this afternoon, splitting its four-game season-opening series with the Zips.
WVU had its chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 3-1, and with no outs, the Mountaineers had the bases loaded when junior Joe Agreste reached first on a fielder’s choice that forced out Austin Markel at home plate on the play.
Senior Justin Parks then drove in pinch runner Colin Durburow from third base with a sacrifice fly-out to center field. Trailing 3-2, with two outs and runners on second and third, senior Tyler Kuhn grounded out to second base, ending game.
Akron started the day’s scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning to give the Zips an early 2-0 lead. Brett Savage hit a two-out, two-run double down the left field line off of WVU starting pitcher Jarryd Summers that scored Brian Kordal and Phil Bednar.
Akron earned another run in the top of the third inning when Doug McNulty scored off of a passed ball. McNulty was walked before teammate Jake Plata hit a single to right field, advancing McNulty to third before he scored on the passed ball from Mountaineer catcher Tobias Streich.
WVU answered in the bottom of the third inning when Agreste scored off of an RBI single from freshman Jedd Gyorko. Agreste singled through the right side and then advanced to second off of freshman Mark Dvoroznak’s sacrifice bunt. Kuhn’s ground out sent Agreste to third before Gyorko hit his single to right field scoring Agreste, putting the Mountaineers on the board, down 3-1.
Freshman Summers (0-1) absorbed his first collegiate loss, giving up six hits and three earned runs in four innings of work. He tallied four strikeouts on the day. Sophomore Stephen Morrisson pitched 4.1 innings of relief with four strikeouts in 15 batters faced.
Akron pitcher Drew Tuorcy (1-0) got the win in seven innings pitched with six hits and one run in 26 batters faced. Farmer got the save, pitching two innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
Next up, WVU will play at the annual Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 29-March 2. The Mountaineers will take on George Mason at 2 p.m., in Conway, S.C., on Feb. 29.
