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WVU Heads to Sooner State for Weekend Series
April 21, 2016 05:07 PM | Baseball
NORMAN, Okla. – After playing 15 consecutive games without leaving its home state, the West Virginia University baseball team takes to the road for a three-game series at Oklahoma, from April 22-24.
First pitch on Friday, April 22 is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT at OU’s L. Dale Mitchell Park. Saturday and Sunday’s games will begin at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT in Norman, Oklahoma.The Mountaineers (19-16, 5-6 Big 12) have won two in a row and are fifth in the Big 12 standings. The Sooners (18-19-1, 4-8 Big 12) sit right behind WVU in sixth in the league and have lost four in a row.
WVU and OU are an even 5-5 against each other since 2013 as conference foes. West Virginia won the 2014 season series, 2-1 in Norman, before Oklahoma posted a 2-1 record in Morgantown in 2015.
WVU will open the weekend with junior right-hander Chad Donato (1-3, 3.86 ERA) on the mound. Senior left-hander Ross Vance (4-3, 5.44 ERA) will get the ball on Saturday, while sophomore righty BJ Myers (4-3, 3.12 ERA) will start Sunday’s finale.
Donato will face freshman righty Chris Andritsos (4-3, 3.38 ERA) and Vance will square off against junior right-hander Jake Elliott (0-1, 4.66 ERA). OU’s starter on Sunday against Myers is to be announced.
Game Notes | Live Stats: Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Friday Free Video Stream | Saturday/Sunday TV: FS Oklahoma+, FCS Central | Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG, Online
FOLLOWING ALONG
For fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person, there are several ways to follow along live. On the radio, Jeff Culhane will call the action on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on various affiliates throughout the state. The radio broadcast can also be heard online at WVUsports.com or on the TuneIn Radio App and the Mountaineer Gameday App.
Live stats from Norman can be found on SoonerSports.com. The three games will be broadcast on Sooner Sports TV. Friday’s game can be found on Cox channel 699, while Saturday and Sunday’s game will air on FS Oklahoma + and FCS Central.
Additional updates and notes can be found on social media by following and connecting with the team at @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma enters the weekend with an 18-19-1 record after a 4-3 loss at home to rival Oklahoma State on Wednesday. The Sooners are 4-8 in Big 12 action and 11-6 at home.
Before its loss to No. 25 OSU on Wednesday in a non-conference contest, OU was swept at No. 7 TCU last weekend. The Horned Frogs won the opener, 11-3, before a doubleheader sweep on April 16, 12-2 and 2-0.
Sheldon Neuse leads the team with a .378 average, 51 hits, six home runs, 26 RBIs and a .667 slugging percentage. Alex Wise is second with a .282 average and 40 hits.
On the mound, JB Olson owns a 1.07 ERA in 33.2 innings, all in relief. Chris Andritsos has made eight starts and has a 3.38 ERA in 42.2 innings. Neuse has added four saves with a 1.59 ERA on the mound in 17.0 innings.
The Sooners are coached by Pete Hughes, in his third season. He owns an 81-75-1 record in Norman and a 605-450-3 mark in 20 seasons as a head coach. Before coming to OU, he guided Virginia Tech to a pair of NCAA Regional appearances, in 2010 and 2013. He was named the Big East Coach of the Year in 2002 while at Boston College.
HISTORY VS. THE SOONERS
West Virginia is 5-6 all-time against Oklahoma. In a series that began in 2012, the Mountaineers are 2-1 in Norman and 5-5 since they joined the Big 12 and coach Randy Mazey arrived, in 2013.
WVU and Oklahoma met for the first time in 2012. As non-conference opponents, OU won 2-5 in Eugene, Oregon.
After WVU took 2-of-3 in the first series between the two teams in 2013, the Mountaineers went to Norman, Oklahoma and won two out of three. WVU won the opener, 7-0, with the help of a three-hit, two-RBI day by Jackson Cramer. After a 5-3 loss in the second game, West Virginia won the rubber match, 9-5. Five Mountaineers recorded at least two hits, and Cramer added a hit and an RBI as a pinch hitter.
Last year, in the first Big 12 series at Monongalia County Ballpark, OU won the opener, 2-0. West Virginia then earned a 6-5 win on Saturday behind 7.1 innings from Ross Vance and a two-hit, two-RBI performance from Cramer. All but one starter had a hit. The Sooners claimed the series with a 10-2 win in the finale.
In the only postseason meeting, WVU lost 6-1 in the Big 12 Championship last year.
ON DECK: WVU VS. MARSHALL
WVU returns home on Tuesday, April 26, for a matchup with in-state rival Marshall. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET at Monongalia County Ballpark. The game, which begins a season-ending 12-game homestand, is a Gold Rush, and all fans are encouraged to wear gold to cheer on the Mountaineers.
LAST TIME OUT: WVU VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
A pair of big innings at the plate and a strong performance from five pitchers helped lead West Virginia to a 13-3 victory over Youngstown State on Tuesday. In front of 1,316 fans at Monongalia County Ballpark, the Mountaineers capped a nine-game homestand with a 13-run, 12-hit barrage. Five WVU pitchers held the Penguins to three runs, one of them earned, on six hits.
West Virginia’s nine extra-base hits included home runs from freshmen Darius Hill and Cole Austin, who each hit their third of the season. Freshman Kyle Gray added a triple and Austin was one of six Mountaineers with a double.
Hill, Austin and junior catcher Ray Guerrini each had two hits. Austin led the team with three RBIs, while Hill and freshman shortstop Andrew Zitel both added two. Guerrini, Hill and sophomore left fielder Kyle Davis all scored two runs apiece.
On the mound, freshman right-hander Braden Zarbnisky got his first career start and pitched 3.0 innings. He allowed one unearned run on two hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
Junior righty Brandon Boone followed with 4.0 strong innings to earn his first career victory. Boone allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out three while walking two.
Single game and flex plan 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 single game tickets and can be found at WVUsports.com, while flex plan ticket information is available here.
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