WVU Heads to Ohio
April 21, 2009 01:27 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
April 21, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University baseball team travels to Athens, Ohio, for a mid-week game against Ohio University on Wednesday, April 22, at 4 p.m.
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| Senior Justin Parks has been one of WVU's main catalysts in 2009.
WVU photo |
The Mountaineers (28-9, 11-4) hold a 44-35 all-time series edge against the Bobcats (19-14, 12-3), with the last two contests ending in walk-off victories for WVU. In 2008, Austin Markel’s RBI double to right field scored Vince Belnome to complete a nine-run rally and defeat Ohio, 13-12, in 10 innings.
In the first matchup this season on April 1, WVU trailed Ohio, 9-6, entering the bottom of the ninth. Jedd Gyorko’s three-run home run tied the contest, and Justin Ellis hit into a fielder’s choice at shortstop that was misplayed to bring in the winning run.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Coach Greg Van Zant said. “Ohio is a very good team and we’ll have to be ready for them.”
WVU is looking to end its season-long two game winless streak after losing its first conference series of the season against Notre Dame. The Mountaineers defeated the Fighting Irish in the first game, 19-3, then were outscored, 11-6, over the next two games.
The Mountaineers are 17-5 this season in nonconference play, and hold a 9-1 mark in mid-week contests. WVU is tied for third in the country at 9.9 runs per game, and is tied with Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern for having the nation’s 12th best winning percentage (.757).
Fifth-year senior Justin Parks is coming off an impressive week, going 9-for-23 in five games with four home runs, 12 RBIs and two doubles from the leadoff spot. Parks is one of three Mountaineers batting over .400, and is tied with Markel for the team lead with 10 home runs.
In his last nonconference game, the Columbus, Ohio, native recorded two home runs, including one grand slam, and a career-high seven RBIs as WVU defeated Duquesne in a 21-12 slugfest.
Tobias Streich improved his batting average by eight points after finishing 6-for-14 against Notre Dame. The Johnsonburg, Pa., native went 4-for-6 with three doubles and three RBIs against the Irish in WVU’s series-opening victory, and provided an offensive spark in game two with a 2-for-4 performance.
Streich is currently second in the BIG EAST with 50 RBIs and 11 sacrifice bunts, and is tied for third with 14 doubles. He has been behind the plate in 36 of WVU’s 37 games played this season.
Since falling to WVU at Hawley Field, Ohio is 8-2 after sweeping Mid-Atlantic Conference opponent Akron. Junior Marc Krauss continues to lead the Bobcats with a .409 average and 16 home runs with 41 RBIs. Krauss went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs against WVU in the last meeting.
Senior Hayden Johnston follows with a .386 average, while Jerod Yakubik (.358), Gauntlett Eldemire (.333) and Robert Maddox III (.312) also boast averages over .300. Ohio leads the MAC with a 12-3 conference record, leading Kent State by one game in the East Division.
The Mountaineers enter their nonconference matchup with 28 victories, tying for 10th in the country with Arizona State, New Mexico State, Louisiana State, Ole Miss, Georgia Southern and East Carolina. WVU is tied for second place in the BIG EAST with preseason favorite Louisville, and trails conference leader USF by one game.
Following WVU’s nonconference game, the Mountaineers travel to Tampa, Fla., for a crucial three-game series with USF. First pitch is set for Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m.
