Mountaineer Diamond Classic
April 12, 2010 01:31 PM | General
April 12, 2010
MOUNTAINEER DIAMOND CLASSIC GAME NOTES
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the second-consecutive season, the West Virginia University baseball team travels to southern West Virginia to participate in the Mountaineer Diamond Classic at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday against Eastern Kentucky.
WVU hopes to duplicate its efforts from last season’s event, when it defeated Kentucky, 10-7, in front of 2,452 fans. It was the first time WVU played in the classic since facing Eastern Kentucky on April 4, 2001.
WVU Photographic Services/Dan Friend photo
“We’re thrilled once again to bring our brand of baseball to the southern part of our state,” coach Greg Van Zant said. “Last year’s experience was a thrill for our players, coaches, and most importantly, our fans. We’re looking forward to another great event at a tremendous ballpark, and our players are excited to compete once again in a great atmosphere.”
The Mountaineers (15-17, 3-6) are looking to win their second-consecutive game after defeating St. John’s, 10-8, on Sunday in a 13-inning affair. Junior Jedd Gyorko, who was named the WVU Varsity Athlete of the Week, finished 4-for-6 with two home runs, two RBIs and a career-high five runs scored. He has combined to go 10-for-20 with five home runs, nine RBIs, four doubles and 11 runs scored in his last four games.
WVU was efficient at the plate in five games last week, batting .328 with 10 home runs, 22 doubles, 44 runs scored and slugging at a .605 clip. Junior Justin McDavid led the everyday starters with a .471 average (8-for-17), one home run, six doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored.
The Mountaineers also had a season-best offensive performance at rival Maryland last week, winning 20-9. In that contest, WVU established season-highs with 20 runs scored, 25 base hits, five home runs, eight doubles, 19 RBIs and 48 total bases.
WVU has 13 West Virginians on its roster, including three that reside near Charleston. Redshirt junior Grant Buckner (Elkview) made his return from a sprained ankle this weekend and is batting .307 with two home runs and 21 RBIs. Freshman Matt Frazer (Alum Creek) also returned from injury this weekend, going 3-for-4 with two doubles in Sunday’s win against St. John’s. Sophomore left-hander Chase Pickering (Cross Lanes) earned his first win of the season on March 14 against Manhattan, striking out five in six innings.
Leading WVU on the mound has been Bridgeport native Chris Enourato, who earned a save in last year’s game against the Wildcats. On Sunday, he delivered one of his best performances of the season, allowing one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts in eight innings pitched as a long reliever. The Red Storm went 2-for-16 against the Bridgeport resident until scoring two runs in the eighth to tie the game, with one being unearned.
WVU leads the all-time series, 4-3, against the Colonels (17-14, 6-3). EKU currently holds a five-game winning streak within the Ohio Valley Conference, recently sweeping Austin Peay last weekend.
Eastern Kentucky owns quality wins this sea¬son against Tennessee (8-7), Western Carolina (12-9) and Marshall (10-6). EKU has played three common opponents with WVU, losing to WCU in two of three games, splitting with Purdue and losing all three games to Bowling Green.
Junior infielder Jayson Langfels leads the team in batting average (.415), home runs (11), doubles (12), triples (4), total bases (104) and slugging percentage (.846). Senior Anthony Ottrando is hitting .361 with a team-leading 39 RBIs.
Junior left-hander Paul Duncan has a team-best 5.11 ERA and is 3-1 in five games started. Sophomore righty Matt Harris leads the Colo¬nels with 26 strikeouts.
Tickets for Tuesday’s game are $6 for general admission and $8 for box seat tickets. To order, call the West Virginia Power Box Office at (304) 344-BATS or visit wvpower.com.
