Baseball: WVU Drops Opening Game
May 19, 2009 10:04 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
May 19, 2009
BOX SCORE
CLEARWATER, FLA. – Six runs by Connecticut in the eighth inning spoiled a solid outing by WVU starter Jarryd Summers as the West Virginia University baseball team fell to UConn, 6-1, on Tuesday evening in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
The Huskies (34-23) strung off seven base hits in the eighth frame, including six consecutive hits to come back for the win. The Mountaineers (36-17) held a 1-0 lead through seven innings in what was a pitcher’s duel between Summers and UConn starter Elliot Glynn, but the WVU bullpen was unable to sustain its one-run advantage.
Summers enjoyed one of his best outings of the season, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts. The All-BIG EAST First Team pitcher consistently located his fastball well and managed to get out of innings unscathed in his no-decision effort.
Glynn (5-4) had a superb start, tossing 7.1 innings and allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Mountaineer reliever Chris Enourato (6-2) suffered the loss after coming in for Summers in the eighth inning.
After leading off the first two innings with base hits, WVU was not able to muster any runs until the third frame. With one out, Justin Parks led off with a double down the left field line, and two batters later Jedd Gyorko hit a two-out single to left field. The base hit scored Parks from second base after he maneuvered nicely around the catcher, who received a pinpoint throw from outfielder Peter Fatse to nearly get Parks.
UConn threatened to score in the fourth inning when it had a runner on second base with two outs. George Springer laced a single through the left side, but Parks came through with an assist from left field to Tobias Streich at home plate to throw out Pierre LePage.
The Huskies managed to take the lead in the eighth inning. After striking out Doug Elliot to begin the frame, Enourato gave up a double off the wall to right center by Harold Brantley Jr., and LePage followed with an RBI single through the left side to erase UConn’s deficit.
Mike Nemeth helped give the Huskies a one-run advantage with an RBI double down the left field line, making it 2-1. George Springer then hit a high-chopping single on a drawn-in infield to score a run, and Fatse followed with a single through the right side to make it 4-1.
A wild pitch by WVU and an unearned run scored by the Huskies finished off the eighth inning, making it 6-1.
Parks, Gyorko and Dan DiBartolomeo each tallied two hits apiece, as the Mountaineers amassed seven hits altogether.
WVU returns with a game against the loser of Pitt and USF on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. WVU's game has been pushed back due to the postponement of the USF-Pitt contest, which is now slated to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
