Baseball: WVU Begins Homestand
March 10, 2010 03:25 PM | General
March 10, 2010
BRYANT GAME NOTES
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| Jedd Gyorko |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team begins its home season with a matchup against Bryant on Thursday, March 11, at 3 p.m. at Hawley Field. WVU follows with a four-game series versus Manhattan this weekend.
The Mountaineers (3-7) face the Jaspers (5-3) on Friday at 3 p.m., and follow with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Both teams wrap up their four-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Game one of Saturday’s doubleheader is poster day, with all fans in attendance receiving a free 2010 WVU baseball schedule poster featuring Grant Buckner, Mark Dvoroznak, Andy Altemus and Colin Durborow.
Sunday’s contest includes the Youth League Sunday promotion, where any youth baseball players wearing their game jersey will receive $1 admission to all Sunday home games throughout the season.
“We’re anxious to begin our home season against Bryant and Manhattan,” coach Greg Van Zant said. “Both teams will be very challenging opponents for us, and it’s important for our team to improve each game and come away successful in our first homestand of the year.”
WVU finished at 2-2 last week, defeating Purdue, 18-14, and earning the school’s first-ever victory over Illinois, 11-8. Starting pitcher Jarryd Summers and shortstop Jedd Gyorko were named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this week, as Summers posted a one-hitter and struck out 11 last Friday against Western Carolina. Gyorko went 8-for-20 last week with one home run, four RBIs, two doubles and four runs scored.
Leading the Mountaineers at the plate is freshman outfielder Matt Frazer, who owns a nine-game hitting streak entering Thursday’s contest. The Alum Creek, W.Va., native had two multiple RBI games last week against Purdue and Illinois, and has spent the last six games as WVU’s cleanup hitter. He also leads WVU with a .469 batting average.
Senior reliever Chris Enourato is off to another good start, earning a save and a victory last week. Against Illinois, the Bridgeport, W.Va., native struck out nine in seven innings and gave up three runs to get the win. He is now 2-0 this season with a 4.15 ERA in five appearances. He is just one appearance shy of tying the all-time school record of 58, which is shared by former Mountaineers Jeremy Cummings (1996-99), Keith Mathias (1988-91) and Jim Heise (1953-56).
The Bulldogs (1-7) are slated to start freshman right-hander Salvatore Lisanti, who is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two games started. Senior outfielder Nick Campbell leads the team with a .387 batting average, 12 hits and five RBIs, as Bryant finishes a two-game series at Virginia Tech before heading to Morgantown.
The Jaspers have won four consecutive games entering this weekend, including a three-game sweep over Delaware. Manhattan earned a marquee victory over No. 20 Miami on Feb. 28, defeating the Hurricanes, 12-7, on the road.
Junior outfielder Mark Onorati leads the team with a .548 batting average through seven games played. Junior infielder Chad Salem is Manhattan’s biggest power threat, leading the Jaspers with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
