University of Toledo
WEST VIRGINIA
Toledo Splits Doubleheader at West Virginia
3/19/2005 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, WV - Toledo split its doubleheader at West Virginia this afternoon by posting a 5-3 victory in the nightcap after falling by a 4-2 margin in the opener at Hawley Field. The Rockets are now 4-10 overall, while the Mountaineers are 8-10.
Lee Fritz (2-for-3, 2 runs scored, RBI) and Justin Jenkins (1-for-2, 2 RBI) provided the firepower for WVU in Game One.
UT jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by junior Dan Stong in the first inning. With one out in the frame, junior SS Jason Watson drew a walk and advanced to third base on a perfectly executed hit-and-run by junior 1B Travis Pilewski to put runners on the corners. Stong then singled through the right side to drive home his team-leading eighth run of the season.
The Mountaineers promptly tied the score at 1-1 in the home half of the first frame on a solo home run by Jenkins off UT starter Joe Welsh.
The Rockets retook the lead in the second frame with one run on the strength of three hits, to go along the aid of a WVU error. Freshman DH Pat Rohrbaugh led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. Freshman LF Jake Swint then singled through the left side and as Rohrbaugh made the turn at third base towards home plate, Mountaineer LF Casey Bowling's throw to the plate eluded the catcher, allowing Swint to take second. Freshman CF Drew Hoisington followed with a single up the middle that scored Rohrbaugh, but a perfect throw by Fritz to the plate gunned down Swint trying to score all the way from second.
In the bottom of the third, the Mountaineers recaptured the lead for good with a pair of runs. WVU scored its first run on a sacrifice fly by Jenkins. On the ensuing play, Fritz laid down a bunt down the third-base line. UT's Welsh tried to make an off-balance toss to first and threw the ball away down the rightfield line allowing Fritz to advance all the way to third base. UT 1B Pilewski ran down Welsh's errant throw and his toss to Stong trickled into the UT dugout allowing Fritz to score the go-ahead run.
WVU tallied an insurance run in the sixth on a home run by Fritz to make the Game 1 final, 4-2.
Welsh (0-3) was the tough-luck loser for the Rockets. The Kalamazoo, MI native surrendered four runs on five hits with two strikeouts in six innings.
WVU's Sean Miller (2-2) captured the victory with a complete-game performance. Miller allowed two runs on six hits.
In Game 2, the Rockets again struck first with a run in the opening inning. Hoisington led off the game in a walk. The Cuyahoga Falls, OH native stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI groundout by Watson.
UT doubled its lead with a run in the fifth on a double to right-center by Hoisington.
After West Virginia cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the fifth with a run, Toledo put three runs on the board in the sixth to chase WVU starter Chris Amedro. Watson led off with a single and a walk to Pilewski put runners on first and second with no outs. Stong attempted a sacrifice bunt but Amedro's throw to first sailed over WVU first basemen's head allowing Watson to score and move Pilewski to third. The Rockets tallied their second run on a wild pitch by Amedro which scored Pilewski and moved Stong to third. UT's final run then came on a fielder's choice by junior 2B Matt Ruth to make the score, 5-1.
West Virginia tallied single runs in the seventh and eighth frames to keep it close, but it was enough as the Rockets snapped their four-game losing skid.
Senior Nick Szczur (2-1) pitched eight strong innings for the Midnight Blue and Gold, allowing three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts to earn the victory. Senior RHP Ben Lovell threw a perfect ninth frame to earn his second save of the season.
Hoisington led the Rockets in Game Two going a perfect 3-for-3 with a RBI.
The two teams will wrap up their four-game series tomorrow with a single game at 1:00 p.m.
