Baseball: WVU Takes Two Tough Losses
April 17, 2010 10:06 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
April 17, 2010
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| Grant Buckner | Kevin Griffin |
GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Eighteen innings of doubleheader baseball were not enough today as the West Virginia University baseball team fell twice to No. 12 Louisville by scores of 8-1 and 12-9 in 11 innings, respectively, at Hawley Field.
WVU took a tough loss to the nationally-ranked Cardinals (28-6, 8-3) in the second game, squandering run-scoring opportunities for a chance at a signature victory. The Mountaineers (16-19, 3-8), however, were impressive at the plate, registering 19 hits to tie for their second-highest total this season.
In game two, WVU scored at least one run in the first six innings, then scored two in the ninth off one of the country’s best closers in Neil Holland. With the game tied at 7-7 in the top of the ninth, Louisville scored two runs on an RBI single up the middle by Stewart Ijames and a run-scoring single through the left side by Drew Haynes.
Holland (6-0), who eventually earned the win, also endured his first blown save of the season. Junior Kevin Griffin led off the frame with a line-drive solo home run to left center, the first of his career, to trim WVU’s deficit to 9-8. Mark Dvoroznak then drew a walk from the NCBWA mid-season watch list closer, and Brady Wilson reached on an error by first baseman Andrew Clark that was also a sacrifice bunt.
Junior Jedd Gyorko then plated the game-tying run with a clutch single to centerfield on a 1-2 pitch. The Morgantown native finished 3-for-6 with two RBIs and a run scored. His RBI in the ninth inning moved him past former Mountaineer Austin Markel for fifth-place on the school’s career list, and he also moved into a tie with Josh Williamson for second-place in career runs scored with 177.
The Mountaineers had opportunities to win the game when they loaded the bases against Holland in the ninth after Grant Buckner was intentionally walked. Matt Malloy stepped to the plate and battled the closer to a full count, then popped out to second baseman Ryan Wright in the outfield. Wright, who was off-balanced on the play, proceeded to throw home to get a tagging Wilson out at the plate, eliminating the game-winning play.
In the eighth inning, WVU had another chance to take the lead. Buckner led off with a single to centerfield, then Malloy placed a bunt single between the first and second basemen to put two runners on. Justin McDavid lay down a bunt on a 3-1 count that allowed pitcher Tony Zych to get the force-out at third base. Still with one runner in scoring position, Colin Durborow hit a line-drive shot that was snagged by Zych, who then threw to second base to turn an inning-ending double play.
After both teams went scoreless in the 10th, Ijames came back with the game-winning two-run home run to right field, and Haynes added another run-scoring hit with a single to centerfield in the 11th. The Mountaineers loaded the bases against Holland with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Jeremy Gum and McDavid recorded consecutive strikeouts to end a game that took four hours and five minutes.
Every Mountaineer starter recorded a hit in game two, and eight of the nine position players recorded multiple-hit games. Junior Dom Hayes went 2-for-4 in game one and 2-for-6 in game two to garner his team-leading 20th multiple-hit game of the season. McDavid finished 2-for-4 in game one and 2-for-7 in the second contest to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, marking the longest by a Mountaineer this season.
Griffin went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in game two, raising his batting average by 69 points over the last five games as he assumes the role as everyday catcher. The Martinsburg native was particularly impressive behind the plate, throwing out a combined three of four base runners who were caught stealing on the day.
Buckner went 3-for-8 with an RBI and two runs scored in both games, highlighted by his solo home run to right center in game two that gave WVU a 7-6 lead in the sixth inning. The Mountaineers lost for the first time this season when they hit two or more home runs in a game, falling to 5-1 after their second loss today.
Right-hander Andy Altemus (3-4) showed his durability in long relief, throwing 6.2 innings in the loss. The Morgantown resident battled between the fifth and 11 innings today, making his team-high 20th appearance. Altemus is now four appearances shy of the single-season school record held by Ashley Shope in 1995.
Louisville starter Thomas Royse (7-1) picked up the win in game one after allowing seven hits in eight shutout innings to the Mountaineers. Starter Jarryd Summers (1-6) was not able to get enough run support once again as he allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings. WVU has scored more than four runs in just one of Summers’ nine starts this season.
WVU returns with the final matchup of the three-game set against UofL on Sunday, April 18, at 1 p.m. at Hawley Field. Tomorrow’s contest is “Youth League Sunday,” as any youth baseball players wearing their game jersey will receive $1 admission.
