MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– The West Virginia University baseball team fell to Akron 3-2 in 11 innings on Tuesday afternoon at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.
Matt Corpora drove in the game-winning run with a fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the 11th inning, scoring Sam Trecaso from third. Trecaso opened the inning with a double to right center, followed by a single from Jason Corzine to advance Trecaso to third base. After freshman right-hander reliever Ryan Tezak struck out James Sheltrown, Corpora hit a ball that WVU freshman second baseman Isac Franklin bobbled, got the out at second base, but was unable to get Corpora at first to turn the double play.
The Mountaineers finished the game with two runs on 10 hits and no errors, while Akron had three runs on seven hits with one error.
Tezak (3-2) took the loss in 1.1 innings pitched, allowing one run and two hits. Junior left-hander Jonathan Jones made the start and lasted five innings, allowing one run on one hit. Jones also struck out five and issued five walks. Freshman righty Corey Walter saw 4.1 innings of relief and allowed a run on four hits, striking out three.
Sophomore right fielder Brady Wilson and redshirt freshman first baseman T.J. Kuban led WVU at the plate with 2-for-5 performances. Kuban, along with redshirt senior shortstop Grant Buckner scored WVU’s lone runs, while Franklin and redshirt senior designated hitter Jeremy Gum each had one RBI.
The Mountaineers opened the lead in the top of the fifth when Kuban scored after a lead-off single to left. Sophomore Matt Malloy laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to put Kuban into scoring position, followed by an RBI single by Franklin up the middle to score Kuban from second.
After getting the first two outs of the bottom half of the fifth, Jones walked two and then allowed a single to Tyler Begun to load the bases. Sam Watkins battled to a full count for the Zips and drew a walk that scored Dan Burant.
West Virginia regained the lead with Gum driving in Buckner by way of a sacrifice fly to left field to bring the score to 2-1. Buckner reached on a single to right field that the Akron right fielder was unable to field and Buckner was able to advance to third on the error. The hit also extends Buckner streak to 41 games of reaching base.
Jared Turocy, who committed the Zips error, redeemed himself in the bottom of the seventh with a shot down the right field line that took a bad hop over Kuban for a double that scored Sheltrown to tie the score at 2-2.
Trecaso led Akron at the plate, going 2 for 3 with one run, while Watkins, Corpora and Turocy all recorded RBIs.
Chris Bassitt took the win for the Zips, who used six pitchers in the game, allowing one hit in 1.1 innings pitched. Starter Jon Pusateri pitched four innings and allowed three hits.
The Mountaineers will return to BIG EAST play in the final road series of the season at Pitt from May 13-15.
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