Baseball Hosts No. 23 Oklahoma in Pivotal Series[/B]
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (April 16, 2015) -[/B] The West Virginia University baseball team will host No. 23 Oklahoma in a Big 12 series from April 17-19 at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Friday's opener will begin at 6 p.m., Saturday's game is set for 4 p.m. and Sunday's finale is at 11 a.m.
"They're maybe the scariest team in the league because they have the best lineup. They've got the first or second best pitching in the league with their quality of arms," coach Randy Mazey said. "This is as good of a team as there is out there. They're very capable of coming in here and putting it on you three times if you don't play well."
There will be a postgame fireworks show courtesy of Coca-Cola on Friday, while the game also has been designated as Family Day. The promotion features four tickets, four hot dogs, four Cokes and one popcorn for just $25 at WVUGAME.com and 1-800-WVU GAME. Family Day packages must be purchased in advance and are not available on game day.
Sunday's game has been designated as Kid's Day, where kids 12 and under can run the bases and receive autographs following the game.
The entire series will feature a free video stream, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The game can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call.
Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the WVUsports.com/audio.
West Virginia (21-13, 4-5 Big 12) most recently fell 5-3 to Penn State on Tuesday evening. Prior to the loss, the Mountaineers opened Monongalia County Ballpark with a three-game sweep of Butler last weekend.
After going 3-for-4 against Penn State, sophomore second baseman Kyle Davis raised his team-leading batting average to .378. He also leads the team with 15 doubles, as well as three home run and 24 RBIs.
Senior third baseman Justin Fox has a .317 batting average with nine doubles, one triple, three homers and 16 RBIs, while senior shortstop Taylor Munden leads the team in home runs (8) and sophomore right fielder Shaun Wood leads the team in RBIs (25).
The Mountaineers have put up impressive power numbers this season with 75 doubles, five triples and 36 home runs, while batting .287 as a team.
Mazey will go back to the pitching staff he used at the start of the season in freshman right-hander BJ Myers (2-1, 3.63 ERA) on Friday, junior left-hander Ross Vance (5-2, 2.79 ERA) on Saturday and sophomore right-hander Chad Donato (5-3, 1.61 ERA) on Sunday.
"He knows its Oklahoma and he knows we have a new stadium. BJ pitches with a lot of energy no matter who he pitches against," Mazey said. "He's going to be a little ramped up for this one. If he's throwing his breaking ball for strikes, that will be a telltale sign that he's settled in."
Vance went eight shutout innings in a victory last Saturday against Butler and Donato struck out a career-high 10 batters against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Oklahoma coach Pete Hughes will counter with a trio of right-handers in Jake Elliott (3-3, 2.68 ERA) on Friday, Alec Hansen (4-4, 3.40 ERA) and Robert Tasin (6-1, 1.66 ERA).
As a team, the Sooners are hitting .287 with 62 doubles, 12 triples and 27 home runs, while the pitching staff has posted a 3.27 ERA, striking out 347 batters in 352.1 innings.
Outfielder Craig Aikin leads Oklahoma at the plate, batting .358 with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run and 18 RBIs, while infielder Kolbey Carpenter is hitting .336 with five doubles, three triples, six home runs and 27 RBIs. Infielder Sheldon Neuse leads the team with 31 RBIs, while batting .302 with five doubles, three triples and five home runs.
West Virginia holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, and has won the season series in both 2013 and 2014.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (April 16, 2015) -[/B] The West Virginia University baseball team will host No. 23 Oklahoma in a Big 12 series from April 17-19 at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Friday's opener will begin at 6 p.m., Saturday's game is set for 4 p.m. and Sunday's finale is at 11 a.m.
"They're maybe the scariest team in the league because they have the best lineup. They've got the first or second best pitching in the league with their quality of arms," coach Randy Mazey said. "This is as good of a team as there is out there. They're very capable of coming in here and putting it on you three times if you don't play well."
There will be a postgame fireworks show courtesy of Coca-Cola on Friday, while the game also has been designated as Family Day. The promotion features four tickets, four hot dogs, four Cokes and one popcorn for just $25 at WVUGAME.com and 1-800-WVU GAME. Family Day packages must be purchased in advance and are not available on game day.
Sunday's game has been designated as Kid's Day, where kids 12 and under can run the bases and receive autographs following the game.
The entire series will feature a free video stream, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The game can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call.
Additionally, fans can listen to the broadcast via the WVU Gameday App on their mobile device, as well as the WVUsports.com/audio.
West Virginia (21-13, 4-5 Big 12) most recently fell 5-3 to Penn State on Tuesday evening. Prior to the loss, the Mountaineers opened Monongalia County Ballpark with a three-game sweep of Butler last weekend.
After going 3-for-4 against Penn State, sophomore second baseman Kyle Davis raised his team-leading batting average to .378. He also leads the team with 15 doubles, as well as three home run and 24 RBIs.
Senior third baseman Justin Fox has a .317 batting average with nine doubles, one triple, three homers and 16 RBIs, while senior shortstop Taylor Munden leads the team in home runs (8) and sophomore right fielder Shaun Wood leads the team in RBIs (25).
The Mountaineers have put up impressive power numbers this season with 75 doubles, five triples and 36 home runs, while batting .287 as a team.
Mazey will go back to the pitching staff he used at the start of the season in freshman right-hander BJ Myers (2-1, 3.63 ERA) on Friday, junior left-hander Ross Vance (5-2, 2.79 ERA) on Saturday and sophomore right-hander Chad Donato (5-3, 1.61 ERA) on Sunday.
"He knows its Oklahoma and he knows we have a new stadium. BJ pitches with a lot of energy no matter who he pitches against," Mazey said. "He's going to be a little ramped up for this one. If he's throwing his breaking ball for strikes, that will be a telltale sign that he's settled in."
Vance went eight shutout innings in a victory last Saturday against Butler and Donato struck out a career-high 10 batters against the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Oklahoma coach Pete Hughes will counter with a trio of right-handers in Jake Elliott (3-3, 2.68 ERA) on Friday, Alec Hansen (4-4, 3.40 ERA) and Robert Tasin (6-1, 1.66 ERA).
As a team, the Sooners are hitting .287 with 62 doubles, 12 triples and 27 home runs, while the pitching staff has posted a 3.27 ERA, striking out 347 batters in 352.1 innings.
Outfielder Craig Aikin leads Oklahoma at the plate, batting .358 with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run and 18 RBIs, while infielder Kolbey Carpenter is hitting .336 with five doubles, three triples, six home runs and 27 RBIs. Infielder Sheldon Neuse leads the team with 31 RBIs, while batting .302 with five doubles, three triples and five home runs.
West Virginia holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, and has won the season series in both 2013 and 2014.
