MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A five-run third inning by USF proved to be costly as the West Virginia University baseball team fell to USF, 8-4, in the BIG EAST opener on Friday evening in Tampa, Fla.
West Virginia (14-10, 0-1 BIG EAST) finished the game with four runs on eight hits with one error, while USF (10-12, 1-0 BIG EAST) scored eight runs on 10 hits with two errors.
After a lead-off walk to Andrew Longley to start the bottom of the third, Luis Llerena singled up the middle, followed by a ball hit by Jonathan Koscso to third, where an error was made by Justin McDavid, scoring Longley. Junior Carlin then laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher that scored Lllerena before a Todd Brazeal home run, driving in three and putting USF up 5-0.
Designated hitter Jeremy Gum hit an RBI triple in the top of the fourth, driving in second baseman Dan DiBartolomeo who had reached on a fielder’s choice to bring the score to 5-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, Carlin singled to third base, scoring Longley to extend the USF lead to 6-1.
The Mountaineers struck again in the top of the fifth after back-to-back singles to start the inning from left fielder Chris Rasky and catcher Kevin Griffin. Center fielder Mark Dvoroznak then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rasky.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth, Brazeal hit his second home run of the evening, bringing the score to 7-2.
West Virginia again threatened in the sixth, but was forced into three straight outs to end the inning after beginning with four straight singles. McDavid opened the inning with a single to right, followed by a DiBartolomeo double to left center that scored McDavid. Buckner and Gum both singled to center field, but were unable to be advanced.
USF added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after Carlin converted his second sacrifice bunt of the evening that scored Llerena.
Left-hander Jonathan Jones (2-3) took the loss for the Mountaineers, tossing a complete game and allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. Randy Fontanez (2-2) took the win for USF and allowed three earned runs on eight hits. Jones struck out five, while Fontanez struck out six.
WVU was led offensively by Gum who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. DiBartolomeo finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Seven WVU starters recorded at least one hit.
Brazeal went 3-for-4 for the Bulls with two home runs, two runs scored and four RBIs. Carlin was 1-for-2 with three RBIs, while Llerena hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Mountaineers and USF will be back in action tomorrow evening at 7 p.m
Discussion about this post