Box Score 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.