Baseball: WVU Takes on Siena
March 12, 2009 01:39 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
March 12, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University baseball team faces its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent in a one-week span as Siena visits Morgantown for a four-game series this weekend at Hawley Field.
Both teams square off on Friday, March, 13 at 3 p.m. They follow with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., and conclude their series on Sunday with another 1 p.m. matchup.
The Mountaineers (8-4) battle the Saints (1-11), who were recently swept by No. 28 Michigan on March 6-7. WVU comes off an 8-5 victory over Atlantic 10 rival Duquesne on Wednesday afternoon in Morgantown.
“This is an important weekend with it being the last weekend before conference play,” Coach Greg Van Zant said. “We want to set up our pitching well and play like it is a conference series.”
Leading WVU in its latest victory was senior first baseman Joe Agreste. The Chesapeake, Va., native went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, which included a go-ahead run-scoring single in the fifth inning. Agreste’s effort raises his batting average to .340 through 12 games played.
Continuing his dominance at the plate is junior Vince Belnome. The Coatesville, Pa., native is riding a 12-game hitting streak since WVU’s opening day victory over Indiana on Feb. 20. Belnome is batting .521 with 21 RBIs and a team-best nine doubles while taking over a new position at second base.
Enjoying a renewed hitting surge has been third baseman Dan DiBartolomeo. After tallying one home run in 2008, DiBartolomeo has already matched last season’s total with a grand slam against New Jersey Tech, and his 14 RBIs in 2009 are more than half of his 26 RBIs that he totaled in 2008. The sophomore from Margate, N.J., boasts a .463 clip with 28 total bases.
Carrying the Mountaineers on the mound has been 6-foot-5, 210-pound pitcher Jarryd Summers. The reigning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three appearances. The Sharpsville, Pa., native has shown his ability to fan batters, tallying 20 strikeouts in just 16.2 innings pitched.
WVU continues to feast on nonconference pitching, carrying a .404 batting average against four Big Ten teams, as well as an SEC, MAAC, A-10 and a Big South opponent. The Mountaineers have recorded double-digit hit totals in all 12 games this season, and have seven players with 12 or more RBIs.
Siena has struggled at the plate with its .232 average. Freshman Dan Paolini has been a bright spot for the Saints with his .436 average (17-for-39) with eight RBIs and three doubles. Senior Eric Mruczek has also swung the bat well, showing a .342 mark (13-for-38) with three RBIs, a double and a triple.
Senior right-hander Will Hassett has been one of Siena’s top throwers this season. The North Bellmore, N.Y., native has made three appearances, including one game started, and has a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings pitched.
“Siena will be a challenge for us,” Van Zant added. “They’ve been put in a tough position because all their games have been away from home, and they’re playing in a league where teams are getting better and better.”
WVU’s four-game series with the Saints will conclude its 10-game home stretch. The Mountaineers return home for a nine-game home swing beginning with Duquesne on March 31.
