
WVU Rallies But Can’t Complete Sweep
March 18, 2018 05:13 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team rallied with a two-out run in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded runners on the corners in a 4-3 loss to Canisius in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark.
The Mountaineers (9-9) secured the series win yesterday, but could not complete the sweep against the Golden Griffins (11-6). The loss was WVU's first at home this season.
WVU scored a run in the first but gave up two in the third and two in the fourth to fall behind, 4-1. The Mountaineers rallied with a run in the seventh and one in the ninth. West Virginia pitchers allowed four runs on four hits with 12 walks, while three inning-ending double plays helped to limit the damage.
Offensively, sophomore first baseman Marques Inman and junior left fielder/right-handed pitcher Braden Zarbnisky each had two hits and an RBI. Zarbnisky extended his reached-base streak to a career-high 14 consecutive games. He has reached base in every game he has appeared in this season and boasts a streak that began with the final three games of the 2017 season.
Sophomore right-handed starter Kade Strowd suffered the loss and fell to 2-2 on the season. In 2.1 innings, he allowed two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and five walks.
For the 11th time this season, the Mountaineers scored first with a run in the first inning. A one-out walk was followed by an RBI double down the left-field line by Inman. WVU scored in the first inning in all three games of the series.
Strowd walked two in the second, but he got a double play to end the inning.
Canisius took a 2-1 lead in the third, scoring the first run on a sacrifice fly after three walks loaded the bases. After junior right-hander Christian Young relieved Strowd, a wild pitch scored the second run.
The Golden Griffins scored two more in the fourth, on a two-RBI single that followed a leadoff hit batter and a fielding error. That extended the lead to 4-1, with one unearned run in the inning.
Sophomore right-handers Isaiah Kearns and Dillon Meadows pitched a scoreless fifth, before Meadows and freshman righty Tristen Hudson combined to shut Canisius out in the sixth. Hudson followed with a scoreless seventh.
In the bottom half of the seventh, WVU cut into the deficit with a run to make it 4-2. Kearns led off the inning with a stand-up triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Kyle Gray. West Virginia had two more hits in the inning but could not add another run.
Hudson followed with a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Zarbnisky stranded one in the ninth.
In the bottom half of the ninth, the Mountaineers rallied with a two-out run to make it 4-3, but they could not tie the game and left runners on the corners. The rally began with a two-out walk by Gray, and a walk to sophomore pinch-hitter Kevin Brophy. Then, Zarbnisky singled up the middle, scoring Gray and advancing sophomore pinch runner TJ Lake to third. However, a fielder's choice groundout ended the game.
The Mountaineers conclude the home-opening homestand vs. La Salle on Tuesday, March 20, at 3 p.m. ET at Monongalia County Ballpark. It is a Dollar Day, with tickets and select concessions available for just $1, and fans can play Baseball Bingo. Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum or on game day at Monongalia County Ballpark.
NOTES: West Virginia is 9-9 on the season and 2-1 at home … The Mountaineers are 7-5 in the all-time series vs. Canisius … WVU scored first for the 11th time this season and scored in the first inning in all three games this weekend … Braden Zarbnisky singled in the seventh inning, extending his reached-base streak to a career-high 14 consecutive games, a streak that began with the final three games of the 2017 season.
Season tickets, single game tickets and mini-packages for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at WVUGAME.com, call 1-800-WVU GAME or visit the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum. The 2018 schedule, with game times, can be found on the baseball schedule page on WVUsports.com. A printable PDF and schedule breakdown also are available on WVUsports.com.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow WVU Baseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit WVUsports.com.
The Mountaineers (9-9) secured the series win yesterday, but could not complete the sweep against the Golden Griffins (11-6). The loss was WVU's first at home this season.
WVU scored a run in the first but gave up two in the third and two in the fourth to fall behind, 4-1. The Mountaineers rallied with a run in the seventh and one in the ninth. West Virginia pitchers allowed four runs on four hits with 12 walks, while three inning-ending double plays helped to limit the damage.
Offensively, sophomore first baseman Marques Inman and junior left fielder/right-handed pitcher Braden Zarbnisky each had two hits and an RBI. Zarbnisky extended his reached-base streak to a career-high 14 consecutive games. He has reached base in every game he has appeared in this season and boasts a streak that began with the final three games of the 2017 season.
Sophomore right-handed starter Kade Strowd suffered the loss and fell to 2-2 on the season. In 2.1 innings, he allowed two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and five walks.
For the 11th time this season, the Mountaineers scored first with a run in the first inning. A one-out walk was followed by an RBI double down the left-field line by Inman. WVU scored in the first inning in all three games of the series.
Strowd walked two in the second, but he got a double play to end the inning.
Canisius took a 2-1 lead in the third, scoring the first run on a sacrifice fly after three walks loaded the bases. After junior right-hander Christian Young relieved Strowd, a wild pitch scored the second run.
The Golden Griffins scored two more in the fourth, on a two-RBI single that followed a leadoff hit batter and a fielding error. That extended the lead to 4-1, with one unearned run in the inning.
Sophomore right-handers Isaiah Kearns and Dillon Meadows pitched a scoreless fifth, before Meadows and freshman righty Tristen Hudson combined to shut Canisius out in the sixth. Hudson followed with a scoreless seventh.
In the bottom half of the seventh, WVU cut into the deficit with a run to make it 4-2. Kearns led off the inning with a stand-up triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Kyle Gray. West Virginia had two more hits in the inning but could not add another run.
Hudson followed with a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Zarbnisky stranded one in the ninth.
In the bottom half of the ninth, the Mountaineers rallied with a two-out run to make it 4-3, but they could not tie the game and left runners on the corners. The rally began with a two-out walk by Gray, and a walk to sophomore pinch-hitter Kevin Brophy. Then, Zarbnisky singled up the middle, scoring Gray and advancing sophomore pinch runner TJ Lake to third. However, a fielder's choice groundout ended the game.
The Mountaineers conclude the home-opening homestand vs. La Salle on Tuesday, March 20, at 3 p.m. ET at Monongalia County Ballpark. It is a Dollar Day, with tickets and select concessions available for just $1, and fans can play Baseball Bingo. Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum or on game day at Monongalia County Ballpark.
NOTES: West Virginia is 9-9 on the season and 2-1 at home … The Mountaineers are 7-5 in the all-time series vs. Canisius … WVU scored first for the 11th time this season and scored in the first inning in all three games this weekend … Braden Zarbnisky singled in the seventh inning, extending his reached-base streak to a career-high 14 consecutive games, a streak that began with the final three games of the 2017 season.
Season tickets, single game tickets and mini-packages for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at WVUGAME.com, call 1-800-WVU GAME or visit the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum. The 2018 schedule, with game times, can be found on the baseball schedule page on WVUsports.com. A printable PDF and schedule breakdown also are available on WVUsports.com.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow WVU Baseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit WVUsports.com.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stevenson, J.P. (3-0)
L: Strowd, Kade (2-2)
S: Smith, Tyler (5)
Batting:
RBI: Ejoh, Canice 2 ; Wilson, Liam 1
SF: Wilson, Liam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ejoh, Canice 1 ; Morro, Conner 1 ; McKenna, Mark 1 ; Martins, Jacob 1
SB: Ejoh, Canice 1
CS: Bennett, Stephen 1
HBP: Conley, Christ 1 ; Morro, Conner 1

Batting:
2B: Inman, Marques 1
3B: Kearns, Isaiah 1
RBI: Zarbnisky, Braden 1 ; Inman, Marques 1 ; Gray, Kyle 1
SF: Gray, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zitel, Andrew 1 ; Kearns, Isaiah 1 ; Gray, Kyle 1
SB: Zarbnisky, Braden 1 ; Kearns, Isaiah 1 ; Galusky, Jimmy 1
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