Baseball: WVU Falls to No. 12 Coastal Carolina
February 19, 2010 07:01 PM | General
February 19, 2010
BOX SCORE
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| Jedd Gyorko |
CONWAY, S.C. – A three-run fifth inning by No. 12 Coastal Carolina spoiled an early lead for the Mountaineers as the West Virginia University baseball team fell, 4-2, to the Chanticleers on Friday evening at the Caravelle Resort Tournament in Conway, S.C.
The Mountaineers (0-1) waged a competitive battle with the nationally-ranked Chanticleers (1-0), getting some quality pitching from starter Jarryd Summers and relievers Matt Morrone and Chase Pickering.
WVU managed six hits against a Coastal Carolina pitching staff that included preseason All-American left-hander Cody Wheeler. The Chanticleers tallied seven hits.
Junior Jedd Gyorko, also a preseason All-American, went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBIs. Redshirt junior Grant Buckner registered two hits on a pair of singles, while Matt Malloy and pinch-hitter Matt Frazer each had a hit.
Summers pitched 3.2 innings and gave up one run on four hits with one strikeout. The Sharpsville, Pa., native stranded six Chanticleer runners but made an early exit due to a high pitch count.
Following Summers’ departure, Morrone came in and battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out left-handed batter Scott Woodward in the fourth inning. Pickering entered the contest in the sixth inning and did not allow a run in three innings pitched.
Gyorko put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard when he lifted a 1-2 offering from Wheeler just inside the left field foul pole to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The round-tripper extended Gyorko’s hitting streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
Coastal Carolina responded when designated hitter Tommy Lastella hit a single through the right side, scoring Rico Noel from second base. Lastella then advanced to second base when first baseman T.J. Kuban’s cut-off throw to home plate sailed wide. With two outs and runners on the corners, Adam Rice lined a possible double to right center but Mark Dvoroznak made a diving grab to rob the Chanticleers of more runs.
In the fifth frame, Gyorko’s RBI groundout to shortstop Tyler Motter brought in freshman Dom Hayes to give the Mountaineers a 2-1 advantage. With Colin Durborow on third base and two outs, Dan DiBartolomeo followed with a sharp two-hopper that third baseman Scott Woodward snagged and threw across the diamond for the final out.
Daniel Bowman countered with a single to centerfield to drive in leadoff man Noel. Rice then chopped an RBI single over the outstretched arm of third baseman Durborow to give Coastal Carolina its first lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth.
Coastal Carolina threatened to score again with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, but WVU second baseman Brady Wilson robbed Noel of a hit up the middle to keep the Mountaineers within striking distance.
Wheeler earned the win after giving up two runs in six innings pitched with five strikeouts. WVU reliever Andy Altemus took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits in the fifth inning.
West Virginia returns with its second game of the Caravelle Resort Tournament on Saturday afternoon against Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky. First pitch is set for noon.
