Baseball: Summers Fans 11 in Loss
March 05, 2010 04:48 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
March 5, 2010
BOX SCORE
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| Jarryd Summers |
GREENVILLE, N.C. – A brilliant start by pitcher Jarryd Summers was spoiled in a pitchers’ duel as the West Virginia University baseball team lost to Western Carolina, 1-0, on Friday afternoon at the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, N.C.
Summers (0-1) took an unorthodox loss after dominating the Catamount hitters throughout the game. The Sharpsville, Pa., native had one of the best starts of his career by striking out 11 in eight innings pitched while giving up just one hit and one walk.
“Jarryd threw very well for us today,” coach Greg Van Zant said. “It takes two to throw a good game and Matt Malloy is learning to call a game as a freshman. Chris Enourato also came in and did a great job for us.
“Jarryd threw his fastball inside today and also threw his changeup well. He made a lot of good pitches.”
Summers’ performance is the seventh time in 23 career games started that he has amassed double-digit strikeouts, including the second time in his career that he has totaled 11 strikeouts. His career high for single-game strikeouts is 12 against Georgetown on April 4, 2009.
His single-game output ranks as the second-most strikeouts at the Keith LeClair Classic, falling one short of former North Carolina standout and current Florida Marlins pitcher Andrew Miller’s 12 K’s against Arizona State in 2005. Summers’ one hit allowed was also the lowest that he has surrendered in any career start, surpassing the two base hits he gave up against Iona in seven innings pitched on March 16, 2008.
The reigning all-BIG EAST first team pitcher threw effectively all afternoon, mixing his fastball with several offspeed pitches to throw the Catamounts (7-1) off-balance. He began the game striking out the first eight of 10 batters faced, and five of his 11 K’s were caught looking.
Summers’ only blemish came in the third inning when he gave up a solo home run down the left field line to Tyler Kirkpatrick on a 3-2 pitch. The at-bat involved several foul tips before Kirkpatrick caught up with Summers’ fastball and kept it fair of the left field foul pole.
Summers dueled against WCU starter Jason Sullivan (3-0), who earned a complete-game win after striking out eight and surrendering just three hits and one walk. WVU reliever Chris Enourato entered in the ninth and struck out one batter while allowing no runs.
All three pitchers combined to strike out 20 of 64 batters faced in a game that lasted just two hours and 11 minutes.
Freshman Matt Frazer produced two of WVU’s three hits, coming on two singles to right field in the second and fourth innings. He extends his hitting streak to seven games.
Grant Buckner added a double down the left field line in the sixth inning.
WVU returns with its second game of the Keith LeClair Classic against 14th-ranked East Carolina on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
