Early Runs Lead Baseball to Victory
March 24, 2015 05:53 PM | General
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – An eight-run first inning led the West Virginia University baseball team to a 14-5 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday afternoon at Jaycees Field.
The Mountaineers (11-10, 2-4 Big 12) scored 14 runs on 13 hits with two errors, while the Lumberjacks (7-18, 2-6 Southland) plated five runs on five hits and were hampered by four errors.
"When the game gets out of hand like that, one way or the other, how you play for the rest of the game dictates how you play the next game," coach Randy Mazey said. "If you can find ways to grind out at bats and hustle when you feel like the game is out of hand, that will carryover to tomorrow."
Nine different players recorded a hit for West Virginia, led by a 3-for-3 performance from senior third baseman Justin Fox. Senior shortstop Taylor Munden, sophomore right fielder Shaun Wood and freshman designated hitter Caleb Potter each hit one home run.
West Virginia sent 12 batters to the plate to take an 8-0 lead after one inning. The Mountaineers loaded the bases with no outs and senior left fielder Brad Johnson drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Following an RBI single through the left side by sophomore catcher Ray Guerrini, Wood hit a grand slam over the right field fence to extend the lead to 6-0. In his second at bat of the inning, Munden made it 8-0 with a two-run home run over the left field fence, his team-leading seventh blast of the season.
"It's nice for the starter, it's nice for the coaching staff and it's good for all the Mountaineer fans," Mazey said. "That was no fun to watch from their side, but that was some of the most fun I've had all season, watching eight runs cross in the first inning.""
Fox connected on his second hit of the afternoon with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, driving in two runs to increase the lead to 10-1.
Potter hit his first career home run to left center field, leading off the top of the fifth inning. Johnson’s second RBI of the game came by way of a single to left field, scoring freshman center fielder Tony Strasiser to extend the Mountaineer lead to 12-1.
After Stephen F. Austin scored three runs to cut the deficit to 12-4, the Mountaineers plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning to bring the lead to 10 runs. Munden scored on a throwing error following a single to right field by freshman Tucker Cascadden, and Cascadden came around to score on a fielder’s choice to center field by Johnson.
The win was awarded to freshman left-hander Seth Jordan (1-0). Jordan pitched three innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.
Freshman right-hander Adam Keller (0-1) went four innings in his second career start, allowing three runs, two earned, on one hit with three strikeouts.
West Virginia will return to action tomorrow at UT Arlington. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
The game can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG College with Lark Smith on the call.
Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the TuneIn Radio App. WVUsports.com also will carry free live audio via the LeanStream Player at WVUsports.com/audio.
A link to live video and live stats is available on WVUsports.com.
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