West Virginia Drops Contest at No. 24 Clemson
February 14, 2015 06:09 PM | General
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Mountaineers finished with seven hits and were retired 16-consecutive times from the fourth to ninth inning, while committing two errors. Clemson had eight hits and one error. Each team left seven on base.
West Virginia was unable to complete a comeback in the top of the ninth, as second baseman Tucker Cascadden struck out with the bases loaded to end the game. Sophomore Jackson Cramer launched the first home run of the season by a Mountaineer with a one-out blast to left center field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Designated hitter Kyle Davis (double), center fielder KC Huth (fielder’s choice) and catcher Ray Guerrini (hit by pitch) loaded the bases before Cascadden’s strikeout.
“Win, lose or draw, in the ninth inning if you have a chance to win the game with one swing of the bat, that’s really valuable experience,” coach Randy Mazey said. “We’re rolling different guys in the lineup, trying different things. This is how you learn who your guys are and who steps up when the game is on the line.”
Left-hander Ross Vance (0-1) was issued the loss in 5.0 innings of work, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Five relievers saw action for the Mountaineers.
“I don’t think he was his best today,” Mazey said. “The left-handed hitters hurt him, which is unusual. He usually dominates left-handed hitters and he didn’t do that today, so we’ll work on that in his bullpen this week.”
Third baseman Justin Fox continued his hot start for the Mountaineers, batting 2-for-3 on Saturday to start the season 5-for-6.
Clemson struck in the first inning following an error by left fielder Brad Johnson that allowed Tyler Krieger to score from first base on a single by Steven Duggar. Johnson attempted to field Duggar’s single, but had trouble handling the ball and it rolled past him.
The Mountaineers tied it up at 1-1 in the top of the third when Cascadden scored by way of a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of right fielder Shaun Wood. Cascadden led off the frame with a single, his first career hit, and then advanced to third on a double to left field by shortstop Taylor Munden.
West Virginia escaped substantial damage in the bottom of the fifth, but Clemson took a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly to left field by Duggar to score Tyler Slaton. Slaton led off with a double to right center and then moved to third on a single to center field by Chase Pinder prior to scoring.
Clemson extended the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh following a throwing error by left-handed reliever Jordan Sergent. Sergent tried to throw out Eli White at third base on a tag play and was unable to make the play, throwing it past Fox and White easily scored.
Slaton scored the second run of the seventh inning, crossing home plate on a sacrifice fly to right center field by Pinder.
Zack Erwin (1-0) picked up the win for the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings. Erwin struck out five and walked one.
Tyler Krieger batted 2-for-3 with one run to lead Clemson at the plate, while Slaton scored two runs.
West Virginia and Clemson close out the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon with the rubber match. A pair of right-handers will pitch game three with WVU’s Chad Donato and Clemson’s Brody Koerner going head-to-head.
Links to live video, live audio and live stats are available at WVUsports.com.
