NORMAN, Okla. – In a pitcher’s duel that went into extra innings, the West Virginia University baseball team lost at Oklahoma, 1-0 in 10 innings on Friday evening at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The Mountaineers (19-17, 5-7 Big 12) and Sooners (19-19-1, 5-8) were locked in a scoreless tie before an unearned run crossed the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning for the lone run of the game.
WVU junior right-hander Chad Donato and OU freshman righty Chris Andritsos held both offenses to a combined six hits in more than seven innings of work and neither allowed a run.
Donato pitched 8.0 innings and gave up four hits with nine strikeouts and three walks. With Donato on the mound, seven Sooners were stranded on the basepaths.
Andritsos took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and yielded just two hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. He helped the Mountaineers strand four baserunners.
Both bullpens were just as effective. For West Virginia, senior right-hander Blake Smith relieved Donato and pitched the final 1.2 innings. He allowed the one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
Oklahoma’s bullpen of right-handers JB Olson and Sheldon Neuse was just as good. The duo combined to give up just one hit with two strikeouts and no walks in 2.1 innings.
Before the Sooners scored in the bottom of the 10th, the Mountaineers had their best opportunity to score a run in the top of the frame.
Junior catcher Ray Guerrini was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and freshman third baseman Cole Austin reached on a bunt single. With two runners on and no outs though, two strikeouts, the first on a failed bunt attempt, and a lineout ended the inning.
In the bottom half, Smith allowed a leadoff single to Alex Wise. He got the next two outs before Wise stole second. Ben Hollas then hit a grounder to Smith, who made a great play to field the ball. Smith’s throw to first was off target though, which allowed Wise to score the game-winning run, unearned on the error.
The Mountaineers’ first baserunner came in the third inning. After Andritsos retired the first eight WVU batters, freshman shortstop Jimmy Galusky reached on an error, but a flyout ended the inning.
With two outs in the fourth, freshman designated hitter Ivan Vera was hit by a pitch but was caught stealing, and junior first baseman Jackson Cramer reached second on a dropped third strike buy a groundout ended the inning.
WVU’s first hit came in the seventh inning when Vera laced a leadoff single to shallow left field. Two more Mountaineers reached in the inning, but a fielder’s choice and a runner caught stealing helped OU get out of it.
West Virginia added another hit in the eighth on a bunt single by Galusky, but it came with two outs and a groundout again ended the inning.
Donato allowed leadoff doubles in the second and third, but in both cases a pair of strikeouts helped end the inning without a run scoring. The junior got into some trouble with two two-out walks in the sixth but got out of it with a strikeout.
In the eighth, again with two outs, a walk and single was followed by a groundout to end the frame and keep the game scoreless.
The series between WVU and OU continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT and concludes on Sunday, also at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT. 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. Both games will air on FS Oklahoma + and FCS Central.
NOTES: WVU falls to 19-17 on the season, 5-7 in Big 12 play and 3-3 in extra innings … Ivan Vera recorded the Mountaineers’ first hit of the game with a single in the seventh inning … No earned runs were scored in the game … Junior Chad Donato pitched 8.0 innings and gave up four hits with nine strikeouts and three walks … Senior Blake Smith relieved Donato and pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts … Along with Vera, freshmen Cole Austin and Jimmy Galusky had hits.
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 Gate A of Monongalia County Ballpark. More information on single game tickets and can be found at
WVUsports.com, while flex plan ticket information is available
here.
