Sports@DominionPost.com
MACON, Ga. – The West Virginia baseball team fell to Mercer, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon following a blowout win in Game 1 of the three-game series.
In the second installment of the Mountaineers’ series against the Bears, Mercer used a pair of early runs and relied on a strong performance on the mound. WVU finished with one run on seven hits, while Mercer tallied three runs on six hits. Both teams committed an error.
The setback snapped WVU’s four-game win streak.
“(Mercer) just had a different look; you aren’t used to facing side-arm guys with fastballs in the 79 mile-per-hour range,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “It took us a little too long to make any adjustments, and we only had one hit out of a right-handed hitter. We didn’t do much as far as adjusting today.
“You have to have a short memory. If you want to play college baseball, you can’t get too excited when you win, and you can’t get too down when you lose. There’s a series to be had tomorrow.”
After West Virginia (9-5) was retired in order to begin the game in the first, Mercer (12-2) grabbed a 1-0 lead on a two-out walk with the bases loaded. The Bears doubled their lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI double down the right-field line.
The Mountaineers, though, got back within one in the third inning, when redshirt senior outfielder Braden Zarbnisky recorded an RBI groundout, scoring freshman outfielder Victor Scott. The speedy freshman singled to begin the frame, then advanced all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt, before Zarbnisky knocked him in.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Bergert, who got the start on the mound for WVU, worked his way out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, as the Mountaineers tallied an inning-ending double play with runs on first and second.
Bergert went on to toss five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked four on 103 pitches.
After the Mountaineers stranded a runner on second in the sixth, the squad had another opportunity in the top of the seventh. Matt McCormick and Ryan Archibald each singled, before Scott advanced both runners with groundout to first moments later.
With runners on second and third with two outs, a strikeout ended the Mountaineer threat.
The Bears scored their third run of the day in the bottom of the seventh, a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to make it 3-1.
WVU used three relievers to get out of a big jam in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman right-hander Jacob Watters, who struck out three in 2.2 innings, grabbed the first two outs, before sophomore left-handed pitcher Beau Lowery nailed down the third with the bases loaded to keep the deficit at two.
The Mountaineers brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, before the game ended on a flyout to left.
Bergert took the loss, dropping his season record to 2-1 on the year. McCormick led WVU at the plate, finishing 3-of-4 with three singles.
Next up, the Mountaineers look to win the road series in today’s rubber match. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Tennis falls to Baylor
WACO, Texas — The Mountaineers tennis team suffered its third loss of the season to No. 27 Baylor, 6-1, on Saturday evening on the road.
West Virginia began Saturday’s match in an early deficit, as Baylor took the No. 2 and 3 doubles matches by scores of 6-2 and 6-4, respectively. The final doubles match from the No. 1 slot went unfinished, with the two pairs tied at 4-4.
From the No. 5 position, senior Sofia Duran dropped the first set to sophomore Paula Baranano, 6-2, and Duran was swept in the second set, 6-0.
West Virginia’s lone singles victory came in the No. 6 position from sophomore Nicole Roc, who has now recorded two consecutive victories over Big 12 opponents this year. Roc defeated Daria Rakitskaya in straight sets by a score of 6-1, 6-1.
In the No. 2 slot, junior Anne-Sophie Courteau, dropped two consecutive sets, 6-1, 6-1, to give Baylor a 3-1 advantage in the match.
The contest was decided in the No. 1 slot, where sophomore Anastasiia Bovolskaia went up against Anastasia Kharitnova. Bovolskaia fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, as Baylor clinched the match. The final two singles matches were played out.
The No. 4 position was played by junior Giovanna Caputo. She suffered the loss in back-to-back sets against Kristina Sorokolet, 6-2, 6-1.
In the No. 3 slot, freshman Kat Lyman played a tough match with Alicia Herrero Linana. Lyman dropped the first set 6-4, but quickly regained her composure in the second set to win, 7-6, following a tiebreaker. The final set was played to 10 points, but Lyman fell by a score of 10-4.
The Mountaineers return to Morgantown on Friday as they play host to TCU at 2 p.m.
Gymnastics prepares for Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Mountaineers gymnastics team travels to Iowa City, Iowa, for a dual meet at Iowa today at 2 p.m.
Heading into the meet, WVU opens on uneven bars, and are 1-3 this season when starting competition in the event. Further, it’s 1-2 in dual meets and 1-5 in true road competitions
The Mountaineers (11-7, 0-2 Big 12) and the Hawkeyes (6-9, 2-7 Big Ten) will go head-to-head for the fifth time in program history. The all-time series is knotted at two wins apiece, with Iowa picking up the latest victory, 194.35-193.7, over West Virginia on Jan. 17, 2009, at Michigan State’s Jenison Field House.
WVU and UI’s common opponents this season were Iowa State and Penn State — both dual meets on the road for the Mountaineers in January.
Sunday will be a tight battle between the Mountaineers and the Hawkeyes, as the teams show nearly identical rankings. UI edges WVU in the overall standings, owning a 195.675 national qualifying score to rank No. 30, while the Mountaineers’ NQS is 195.6 and rank one spot behind the Hawkeyes at No. 31. West Virginia bests Iowa on bars and beam and rank No. 30 (48.9 NQS) and No. 36 (48.845 NQS), respectively. The Hawkeyes rank No. 34 on bars (48.83 NQS) and No. 40 on beam (48.815 NQS). Iowa is ranked No. 20 on floor (49.19 NQS), while West Virginia sits at No. 26 (49.12 NQS). UI also comes in at No. 30 on vault (48.915 NQS), and WVU checks in at No. 35 (48.88 NQS).
This past Sunday, the Mountaineers finished in 2nd place with a season-best score of 196.425 in a tri-meet at the WVU Coliseum. Pitt scored 196.5 and finished 1st overall, while Rutgers placed 3rd with a 195.3.
The Mountaineers matched the 15th-best score in program history thanks to three first-place event showings. WVU was most impressive on beam, where all six gymnasts scored 9.8 or better, giving the Mountaineers a season-high 49.225 score. The event total matches the fourth-best score in program history. West Virginia also finished 1st on floor with a 49.375.
Senior Chloe Cluchey posted a personal best on floor, scoring 9.95 in the No. 3 position to win the event outright. Cluchey’s total was the team’s highest individual score of the season. The Woodbridge, Virginia, native has scored 9.9 or better twice this season and has won the event outright three times.
In addition to its wins on beam and floor, West Virginia also finished first on bars with a season-high 48.975 score. WVU tallied 48.85 on vault and placed third.
“We just came off a great week at home with a season-high score,” Butts said. “I’m looking for that performance on the road. We still have a lot to clean up. We must maximize our performance and our scores. That has been our focus all week, getting ready for a dual meet. I love the dual meet feel. We have trained specifically for that, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Freshman Abbie Pierson and Cluchey pace the Mountaineers with top-100 rankings on their respective events. Cluchey boasts a team-high 9.855 NQS on floor and is tied at No. 80, while Pierson is tied at No. 82 on vault with an NQS of 9.82. Freshman Kianna Yancey leads WVU on bars with a 9.82 NQS mark, and sophomore Esperanza Abarca and Pierson pace WVU on beam with matching 9.79 NQS scores.
The Hawkeyes defeated in-state rival Iowa State on Friday with a season-high score of 196.425. UI scored season highs on bars and floor.
