Baseball: WVU Ready For USF
April 03, 2008 04:56 PM | General
April 3, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University baseball team will play host to USF in a three-game BIG EAST conference match-up beginning on Friday, April 4-6, at Hawley Field.
Friday’s game is at 7:05 p.m, Saturday’s game is set for a 3 p.m. start and Sunday’s game will begin at 1 p.m.
Friday’s game will mark the sixth meeting in program history between USF (14-13, 4-5 BIG EAST) and WVU (22-6, 4-2 BIG EAST) a series, which began in 2006. The Bulls lead the series 4-2. USF last year’s series, 2-1, in Tampa, Fla.
At the plate, the Bulls are led by freshman outfielder Ryan Lockwood who has 40 hits, including nine doubles and one triple, 22 RBIs and 25 runs. Senior outfielder Joey Angelberger has 34 hits, including eight doubles, 16 RBIs and 23 runs while junior outfielder, Brandon Smith has 29 hits, including three doubles, one triple and two home runs, 20 RBIs and 17 runs to aid USF’s offense.
WVU is lead by freshman second baseman Jedd Gyorko who has 50 hits, including seven doubles, three triples and four home run, 35 RBIs and 31 runs. Junior outfielder Justin Parks has 43 hits, including five doubles, one triple and two home runs, 31 RBIs and 32 runs on the season, while senior shortstop Tyler Kuhn has 45 hits, including 11 doubles, three triples and five home runs, 34 RBIs and 38 runs.
On the mound, the Mountaineers will look to junior Josh Whitlock to lead WVU from the mound. The right-handed pitcher is 5-1 on the season, striking out 30 batter, walking 19 and allowing 19 runs on 31 hits. He has an ERA of 3.51 on the season. Sophomore lefty Stephen Morrison will pitch on Saturday for the Mountaineers (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 30K, 21BB).
The Bulls will pitch three right-handers against WVU with freshman Randy Fontanez (2-2, 2.91 ERA, 29K, 15BB) on Friday night, while sophomore Matt Quevedo (0-1, 3.79 ERA, 30K, 11BB) will pitch Saturday, and freshman Matt Stultz (2-3, 3.29 ERA, 23K, 7BB) will finish the series, pitching Sunday.
This weekend’s series marks the first alumni weekend for the baseball program. All baseball alumni are invited to all three games as well as a number of weekend activities.
On April 2, head coach Greg Van Zant earned his 400th victory as the Mountaineers used an offensive explosion and two strong starting pitching performances to sweep Maryland Eastern-Shore in a pair of seven inning games, winning 23-7 in game one and 18-1 in game two.
