Baseball Wins Series in Ninth Inning at K-State[/B]
MANHATTAN, Kan. (April 4, 2015) -[/B] Freshman second baseman Kyle Davis drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth as the West Virginia University baseball team took the rubber match at Kansas State with a 3-2 win at Tointon Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers (18-11, 4-5 Big 12) won the series after splitting games on Thursday and Friday. West Virginia finished with three runs on 12 hits with no errors, while Kansas State (13-16, 2-7 Big 12) had two runs on four hits with one error.
"We came out today and swung the bats pretty well against a really, really good pitcher," coach Randy Mazey said. "I hate to say it, but we deserved to win that game because we out-hit them and Donato was really good and Blake Smith was really good. I thought we competed and composed ourselves really well today."
Davis came to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners in the top of the ninth, and smacked a double to left field to score the game-winning run in senior third baseman Justin Fox. Fox reached base with a one-out double and then advanced to third base on a ground out to second base by sophomore right fielder Shaun Wood. K-State intentionally walked senior left fielder Brad Johnson to get to Davis, who proceeded to get his third hit of the afternoon.
"Brad Johnson had been swinging the bat well today so you have to walk him," Mazey said. "If you walk Davis, you're in danger of walking in the go-ahead run and you don't ever want to do that. It's hard to walk two guys in a row, but I felt just as good with Davis at the plate as I would have they pitched to Johnson."
Davis went 3-for-5 to lead WVU in hitting, while Fox, Johnson and sophomore first baseman Jackson Cramer had two hits apiece. Seven of the nine WVU batters recorded a hit.
After struggling to find the zone early in the game, sophomore right-hander Chad Donato (4-3) settled down and retired 18 of the final 20 batters he faced to take a no-decision. Donato finished his afternoon allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 7.1 innings.
"His first inning was very unlike him," Mazey said. "He had walked one guy all year and walked two in the first inning and they both scored. Other than that, that's Chad Donato. He pitched really well and retired almost everyone in the middle of the game."
Donato was relieved by junior right-hander Blake Smith (3-1), who pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game in perfect fashion. Smith struck out four of the five batters he faced to get his third win of the season.
Kansas State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on rare back-to-back walks issued by Donato. Max Brown tripled to left center field with two outs, driving in Clayton Dalrymple and Shane Conlon.
West Virginia began the top of the second with back-to-back singles and Johnson scored from second base on a single to left field by sophomore catcher Ray Guerrini to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After stranding numerous runners in scoring position, West Virginia was finally able to breakthrough and tie the game in the top of the sixth at 2-2. With runners on the corners and one out, Guerrini drove in his second run of the game on a fielder's choice that the shortstop bobbled, allowing all runners to advance safely. Johnson led off the frame with a triple to center field and Cramer was intentionally walked to set up a double play.
K-State nearly broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth when Carter Yagi led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch with no outs. Donato then got a ground out to shortstop and was relieved by Smith, who struck out a batter and induced a ground out to shortstop to strand Yagi.
Brandon Erickson (0-2) was issued the loss, giving up one run on three hits with one walk in two innings of action. Starter Nate Griep took a no-decision after pitching five innings. Griep allowed two runs one eight hits with five strikeouts.
West Virginia returns to action at Maryland on Tuesday, April 7 at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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.
A link to live stats is available on WVUsports.com.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (April 4, 2015) -[/B] Freshman second baseman Kyle Davis drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth as the West Virginia University baseball team took the rubber match at Kansas State with a 3-2 win at Tointon Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers (18-11, 4-5 Big 12) won the series after splitting games on Thursday and Friday. West Virginia finished with three runs on 12 hits with no errors, while Kansas State (13-16, 2-7 Big 12) had two runs on four hits with one error.
"We came out today and swung the bats pretty well against a really, really good pitcher," coach Randy Mazey said. "I hate to say it, but we deserved to win that game because we out-hit them and Donato was really good and Blake Smith was really good. I thought we competed and composed ourselves really well today."
Davis came to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners in the top of the ninth, and smacked a double to left field to score the game-winning run in senior third baseman Justin Fox. Fox reached base with a one-out double and then advanced to third base on a ground out to second base by sophomore right fielder Shaun Wood. K-State intentionally walked senior left fielder Brad Johnson to get to Davis, who proceeded to get his third hit of the afternoon.
"Brad Johnson had been swinging the bat well today so you have to walk him," Mazey said. "If you walk Davis, you're in danger of walking in the go-ahead run and you don't ever want to do that. It's hard to walk two guys in a row, but I felt just as good with Davis at the plate as I would have they pitched to Johnson."
Davis went 3-for-5 to lead WVU in hitting, while Fox, Johnson and sophomore first baseman Jackson Cramer had two hits apiece. Seven of the nine WVU batters recorded a hit.
After struggling to find the zone early in the game, sophomore right-hander Chad Donato (4-3) settled down and retired 18 of the final 20 batters he faced to take a no-decision. Donato finished his afternoon allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 7.1 innings.
"His first inning was very unlike him," Mazey said. "He had walked one guy all year and walked two in the first inning and they both scored. Other than that, that's Chad Donato. He pitched really well and retired almost everyone in the middle of the game."
Donato was relieved by junior right-hander Blake Smith (3-1), who pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game in perfect fashion. Smith struck out four of the five batters he faced to get his third win of the season.
Kansas State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on rare back-to-back walks issued by Donato. Max Brown tripled to left center field with two outs, driving in Clayton Dalrymple and Shane Conlon.
West Virginia began the top of the second with back-to-back singles and Johnson scored from second base on a single to left field by sophomore catcher Ray Guerrini to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After stranding numerous runners in scoring position, West Virginia was finally able to breakthrough and tie the game in the top of the sixth at 2-2. With runners on the corners and one out, Guerrini drove in his second run of the game on a fielder's choice that the shortstop bobbled, allowing all runners to advance safely. Johnson led off the frame with a triple to center field and Cramer was intentionally walked to set up a double play.
K-State nearly broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth when Carter Yagi led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch with no outs. Donato then got a ground out to shortstop and was relieved by Smith, who struck out a batter and induced a ground out to shortstop to strand Yagi.
Brandon Erickson (0-2) was issued the loss, giving up one run on three hits with one walk in two innings of action. Starter Nate Griep took a no-decision after pitching five innings. Griep allowed two runs one eight hits with five strikeouts.
West Virginia returns to action at Maryland on Tuesday, April 7 at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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.
A link to live stats is available on WVUsports.com.
