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Five-Run Seventh Helps WVU Sweep Marshall
April 27, 2016 11:09 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team swept the season series vs. Marshall with a 9-8 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark.
The Mountaineers (21-18) used a five-run seventh inning to secure the first series sweep in the in-state rivalry by either team since 1997. The one-run contest was the fourth consecutive in the series and the fifth in the last five games between WVU and the Thundering Herd (21-17).
“I told the guys before the game started, every single time we’ve ever played Marshall, it’s been like this, it’s been a dogfight,” said WVU coach Randy Mazey. “They get super fired up for the game and they just happen to have the best team they’ve had since I’ve been here, which is good. That challenges the Mountaineers to play well.”
WVU scored nine runs on 13 hits, while Marshall, who nearly came back with a five-run eighth inning, tallied eight runs on 11 hits.
Junior first baseman Jackson Cramer paced the Mountaineer offense with three hits and four RBIs, including the eventual game-winner in the seventh. Freshman third baseman Ivan Vera had two hits and two RBIs, while sophomore left fielder Kyle Davis added a three-run home run, his sixth long ball of the season.
Eight of the Mountaineers’ nine starters had at least one hit and six either drove in a run, scored a run or both.
“We played really well tonight,” added Mazey. “I just went down the lineup with our guys, off the box score, and every guy in the lineup played well tonight, every single guy. Offensively, defensively, base running, energy. That’s what you have to do to win games. If we can do that every day, we have a chance to finish pretty strong.”
Sophomore right-hander BJ Myers (5-3) earned the win after pitching 4.0 innings in relief. He allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
West Virginia took a 3-0 lead early, but Marshall answered to tie the game at 3-3. The Mountaineers regained the advantage at 4-3 before a five-run seventh inning to give WVU a 9-3 lead. But the Thundering Herd answered the following inning with five runs of their own to cut the deficit to one at 9-8.
That’s when senior righty Blake Smith came in to get the final five outs of the game. In 1.2 innings, Smith struck out three and earned his fifth save of the year.
WVU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. A sacrifice fly by Vera scored Davis for the first run of the game, and Cramer’s single through the left side plated freshman right fielder Darius Hill.
The two-run first inning marked the 22nd time this season WVU had scored first and the 13th time the Mountaineers scored in the first inning.
With the help of a double play in the first and a 1-2-3 third inning, freshman right-handed starter Braden Zarbnisky pitched 3.0 effective innings. He gave up no runs on two hits while striking out three.
After Myers replaced Zarbnisky in the fourth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, WVU added to its lead in the fourth with a run.
Hill led off the inning with a single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt. Cramer then single to center, which scored Hill to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead.
Marshall tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning. The Thundering Herd scored three runs on five hits, including a two-run home run by Sam Finfer.
The Mountaineers regained the lead for good though in the bottom of the sixth. The go-ahead run scored on a groundout by Cramer as Hill crossed the plate.
WVU added to its lead with a big seventh inning. With two runners on and two outs, Davis hit a home run to left field. His sixth of the season and 10th of his career scored freshmen Kyle Gray and Jimmy Galusky.
Hill followed with a double and Vera tripled to bring him home. Cramer then singled to score Vera and give West Virginia a 9-3 lead.
The extended lead proved short-lived, as Marshall answered with five runs of their own in the top of the eighth. An RBI single was followed by a grand slam by Tyler Ratliff to make it 9-8.
With one out in the inning, Smith entered the game and got the final two outs of the inning before a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.
WVU next welcomes Baylor to Monongalia County Ballpark from April 29-May 1. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. The series begins on Friday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET. There will be postgame fireworks, presented by United Bank, and the national-champion WVU rifle team will be honored throughout the game. Saturday is Family Day, where fans can purchase four tickets and get a $10 concession voucher for just $25. Before the game, the WVU men’s basketball team will host Hoops ‘n Home Runs. The tailgate will take place in the parking lot outside the center field fence and begin at 2 p.m. Food and beverages will be available, and fans will receive a voucher for $2 off their ticket to the 4 p.m. game. Sunday is Kids’ Day and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. At the 1 p.m. series finale, WVU faculty and staff can get a ticket for just $3 with their ID. Following the game, kids will have the opportunity to run the bases and get autographs from their favorite players.
NOTES: WVU improved to 21-18 on the season and 43-24 all-time against Marshall … WVU swept the season series vs. Marshall after a 5-4 win on April 5, the first series sweep by either team since WVU swept in 1997, 6-2 and 10-0, with both wins in Morgantown … The last four games between West Virginia and Marshall, and five of the last six, have been one-run contests … Sophomore Kyle Davis hit his sixth home run of the season and 10th of his career … Sophomore BJ Myers improved to 5-3 on the season while senior Blake Smith earned his fifth save … Junior Jackson Cramer drove in his third game-winning RBI of the season with a single in the seventh inning … WVU improved to 16-6 when scoring first and 9-4 when scoring in the first inning.
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.
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