Main-Celebration-041916.jpg
Baseball Concludes Home Season Friday and Sunday
May 12, 2016 06:03 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Riding a season-high six-game winning streak, the West Virginia University baseball team hosts its final home games of the season with a Senior Weekend matchup against William & Mary on May 13 and 15 at Monongalia County Ballpark.
The series begins with a doubleheader on Friday, May 13. First pitch in the opener is set for 4 p.m. ET, while the second game will commence approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one. After an off day on Saturday, WVU hosts Senior Day on Sunday at 1 p.m. Before the game, the Mountaineers will honor their four seniors, Jeff Hardy, KC Huth, Blake Smith and Ross Vance. Following the game, a free youth clinic will be held on the field.The Mountaineers (28-19) have won six in a row and nine of their last 10. With the final weekend of the regular season just a week away, WVU is in fourth place in the Big 12 Conference standings thanks to a sweep of Texas last weekend.
The Tribe (24-23) come to Morgantown having won four consecutive weekend series. W&M is second in the Colonial Athletic Association after back-to-back series wins against Delaware and Towson at home.
On the mound, West Virginia will open Friday’s doubleheader with junior right-hander Chad Donato (3-3, 2.95 ERA), while senior left-hander Ross Vance (5-3, 5.23 ERA) will start the second game of the doubleheader. On Sunday, sophomore righty Conner Dotson (5-4, 5.35 ERA) makes his second start of the season.
Donato will go up against junior right-hander Nick Brown (4-5, 5.56 ERA), while Vance is set to face freshman lefty Bodie Sheehan (3-4, 4.94 ERA). Dotson will toe the rubber against junior righty Daniel Powers (7-3, 4.48).
Game Notes | Live Stats: Friday 1, Friday 2, Sunday | Live Video: Friday 1, Friday 2, Sunday | Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG, Online
TICKETS
Tickets are available for all three games this weekend against William & Mary. Tickets to Friday’s game will be good for both games of the doubleheader. 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.
FOLLOWING ALONG
For fans unable to cheer on the Mountaineers in person at Monongalia County Ballpark, there are several ways to tune in live. A live video stream, courtesy of Coca-Cola, and live stats can be found at WVUSports.com. Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky will call the action on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on various affiliates throughout the state. The radio broadcast can also be found online at WVUsports.com or on the TuneIn Radio App and the Mountaineer Gameday App. Additional updates and notes can be found on social media by following and connecting with the team at @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
PARKING AND SHUTTLE INFO
There are several new parking and shuttle options for fans to make cheering on the Mountaineers even easier this season.
Free parking will be available for all fans in the new parking lots behind the outfield fence. Lot 1 is located behind the right field wall and adjacent to the clubhouse facility at the ballpark, and lot 2 is located across the street from Gate A.
A limited amount of ADA accessible parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for free in the lot closest to Gate A. The lot is located behind the left-center field wall, behind the scoreboard. An ADA parking permit will be required to park in the spots reserved for ADA parking.
Free shuttle service for WVU students will also be offered to each WVU baseball home game this season through WVU Transportation. Student must have a valid WVU Student ID to ride the shuttle.
The shuttle schedule and complete parking information can be found at WVUsports.com.
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
William & Mary comes to Morgantown with a 24-23 record and a 13-7 mark in CAA play. The Tribe are 13-8 at home, 11-12 in road contests and 0-3 at a neutral site.
William & Mary is coming off a series win against Towson. The Tribe won the opening game of a doubleheader in walk-off fashion, 8-7, on May 7 before dropping the second game, 9-1. W&M claimed Sunday’s series finale, 9-1.
The Tribe are led by Brian Murphy, in his third season at W&M. He is 80-75 both at William & Mary and overall in his career.
HISTORY VS. THE TRIBE
West Virginia is 26-12 all-time against William & Mary. WVU is 13-1 at home and 13-11 in road contests. The first meeting occurred in 1914, but the two clubs have not met since 1968.
WVU and W&M first played in 1914, a two-game series in Williamsburg, Virginia. West Virginia won the opening contest, 6-3, before the Tribe prevailed for an 11-4 win.
From 1951-1968, West Virginia and William & Mary played as Southern Conference foes. WVU went 25-6 against W&M, including a stretch of 11 consecutive victories.
The Mountaineers and Tribe last played in 1968, WVU’s last season in the SoCon. In a doubleheader in Williamsburg, West Virginia won the opener, 9-0, before a 5-0 loss in the nightcap. The loss snapped WVU’s 11 game winning streak against W&M.
ON DECK: BACKYARD BRAWL ROUND TWO
West Virginia finishes the season on the road. The season-ending roadtrip begins at Pitt on Tuesday, May 17 at 6 p.m. ET. WVU then travels to No. 7 Texas Tech from May 19-21 before the Big 12 Championship begins on May 25.
LAST TIME OUT: WINNING STREAK CONTINUES VS. MARYLAND
West Virginia is coming off a 4-1 victory over Maryland on Tuesday. WVU extended its winning streak to six games on a rainy evening at Monongalia County Ballpark. In a game that was delayed by nearly an hour due to rain, 1,404 fans saw the Mountaineers score four unanswered runs to back up a strong start by freshman right-hander Michael Grove.
Grove, who earned his second win of the season, held the Terrapins to one run on six hits in 6.2 innings. He tied a career high with 13 strikeouts, tied for the most by a Big 12 pitcher this season. Grove walked just three.
Offensively, it was junior first baseman Jackson Cramer leading the charge again. He recorded his sixth multi-hit game in the last seven contests with a two-hit, one RBI day. Cramer hit his seventh home run of the season with a solo shot in the fourth inning, the eventual game-winning run.
Freshman third baseman Ivan Vera, who also is swinging a hot bat, added a hit and drove in two runs, while fellow freshman Darius Hill added two hits and a run scored. Freshman second baseman Kyle Gray had a hit and an RBI.
WVU EARNS ACADEMIC HONORS
Seven members of the West Virginia baseball team were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team.
Senior Ross Vance, juniors Brandon Boone, Ray Guerrini and Jackson Sigman and sophomore Shaun Corso were named to the First Team, while junior Jackson Cramer and sophomore Kyle Davis earned Second Team honors.
Cramer, Corso, Davis and Vance were recognized on an Academic All-Big 12 Team for the second consecutive season.
First team members are those who have a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year.
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 Gate A of Monongalia County Ballpark. More information on single game tickets and can be found at WVUsports.com.
Steve Sabins | April 14
Tuesday, April 14
Coal Rush Baseball Uniform Reveal
Wednesday, March 11
Steve Sabins | Feb. 16
Monday, February 16
Matthew Graveline | Feb. 16
Monday, February 16
