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WVU Caps Roadtrip with 9-2 win at Hawaii
March 06, 2016 10:53 PM | Baseball
HONOLULU – In the final game of an 11-day, eight game roadtrip, the West Virginia University baseball team’s offense broke out for nine runs to lead WVU to a 9-2 victory at Hawaii in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Mountaineer (7-3) used a pair of home runs by junior catcher Ray Guerrini to lead a balanced offensive attack that totaled 13 hits. The Rainbow Warriors (6-7) were shut down at the plate thanks to a strong pitching performance by freshman starter Tanner Campbell and three relievers, allowing just two runs on six hits.
On a warm, sun-soaked afternoon in Honolulu, WVU also took advantage of four UH errors to score a pair of unearned runs.
“We had double-digit hits in the last three games here, and it feels like we’re at the tip of the iceberg of what this team is capable of,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “We went 5-2 on a really long roadtrip, so we have to feel good about the results coming home. I know we’re playing with confidence.”
Guerrini finished the day with three hits and scored three runs along with his two home runs. Freshman right fielder Darius Hill added three hits, a home run shy of the cycle, with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored.
On the mound, Campbell made his career debut and pitched 4.1 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk.
Campbell was relieved by sophomore right-hander Conner Dotson, who earned the win with 2.2 strong innings of work. Dotson improved to 2-0 on the year, allowing two hits and striking out four.
Head coach Randy Mazey recaps today's win at Hawaii.
Posted by WVU Baseball on Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Mountaineers began the scoring barrage in the first inning. Hill singled and scored one batter later when freshman second baseman Cole Austin doubled him home.
WVU added another run in the second on Guerrini’s home run. The scoring continued in the third with back-to-back hard-hit doubles, with junior first baseman Jackson Cramer hitting one to right center to score Austin, who led off the frame. Cramer’s double marked the 30th consecutive game that he had reached base.
West Virginia’s consecutive innings of scoring a run concluded with one run in the fourth inning. Guerrini led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. He scored with two outs on a single by sophomore third baseman Kyle Davis.
Campbell was strong through the first four innings, allowing a single hit in the first and second before a 1-2-3 third and fourth. He got into trouble in the fifth though, and Hawaii scored a pair. With the bases loaded, Dotson came in and got the final two outs of the frame before a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
In the seventh, WVU added to its lead with a three-run inning. Freshman shortstop Jimmy Galusky led off the inning with a triple to right center. After Davis walked, Hill hit his fourth double of the series to score Galusky and Davis. With a new Hawaii pitcher on the mound, Hill scored from second on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the UH catcher.
Dotson allowed a two-out single in the seventh, but that was the extent of the damage the Rainbow Warriors could put on the sophomore.
Guerrini’s second homer of the game in the eighth made it 8-2 before freshman pinch hitter Marques Inman reached on a fielder’s choice to score Hill.
Senior righty Jeff Hardy came in and fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning and fellow senior right-hander Blake Smith threw a scoreless ninth.
The Mountaineers return home for the home opener at Monongalia County Ballpark on March 11-13. WVU hosts Old Dominion in the weekend series that begins on Friday, March 11 at 3 p.m. The series continues on March 12 at 3 p.m. and concludes on March 13 with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
NOTES: WVU improved to 7-3 on the year and 2-2 all-time against Hawaii … WVU returns home after an 11-day, 8 game roadtrip to Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Hawaii … Junior Ray Guerrini’s two home runs were his first of the season and fourth and fifth homers of his career … Freshman Kyle Gray extended his hitting streak to a team-high seven games in the second inning … Junior Jackson Cramer’s RBI double in the third inning extended his reached base streak to a team-high 30 games … Sophomore Kyle Davis’ fourth-inning single was his team-high 13th hit of the season and is team-high-tying eighth RBI of the year and he has reached base in 28 consecutive games … Freshman Tanner Campbell made his first career start and first appearance as a Mountaineer and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk … Sophomore Conner Dotson improved to 2-0 on the year with 2.2 innings of work, striking out four and allowing two hits … Freshman Darius Hill had three hits and was a home run away from the cycle ... Hill had six hits on the weekend, including a double in every game.
Season and single game tickets for the 2016 WVU baseball season are on sale now. Fans can join the excitement of WVU baseball and contribute to the home field advantage at Monongalia County Ballpark by calling 1-800-WVU GAME, purchasing tickets at WVUGAME.com or visiting the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum. More information on season tickets and the 30-game home schedule can be found at WVUsports.com, while single game ticket information is available here.
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