MORGANTOWN – Any baseball coach will adamantly say that you can never have too much pitching.
The University High School team put that adage to the test on Saturday as it used eight pitchers to complete a doubleheader sweep of visiting Hampshire.
UHS used three pitchers in a 4-0 opening game win and then five more pitchers to take the nightcap 11-5.
“No matter who we called upon to pitch today, they got the job done,” UHS head coach Brad Comport said. “We put some guys in some difficult positions and I’m definitely pleased with how the guys came in and attacked the strike zone and were able to get us out of some tough spots.”
Maybe none of those spots were tougher than the one that sophomore Daniel Grabo was put in during the second contest.
The young right-hander took the mound with one out and the bases loaded in the second inning and the game tied 1-1. He proceeded to strike out the first batter he faced and then induced a flyout to end the Hampshire threat.
UHS then scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning to virtually put the game out of reach.
“Danny is very mature for a sophomore,” Comport said. “No moment is too big for him. He’s a really good competitor and we were very confident in his ability to get the job done and he did just that.”
Grabo picked up the win as he struck out three, allowing just one run and three hits in his inning and one-third of work.
Senior Cody Thomas slammed the door with a three-inning save.
“I was honestly just trying to throw strikes,” Grabo said. “That’s all I can do for my team. Let them do the work in the field. That’s what they are there for, I was just trying to not give up any extra-base hits.”
University’s six-run outburst was aided by three errors from the Trojans as Thomas hit a two-run single and Joshua Smolkin added an RBI double.
Hampshire did cut the lead to 7-5 as it scored one run in the third on an RBI double from Cannon Mowery and then three runs in the fourth inning.
But the Hawks (8-8) added four more runs in the fifth inning thanks to RBI singles by Wenkai Campbell, Gabe Templeton and Brodee Latocha along with an RBI sacrifice fly from Thomas.
Templeton had two hits in the game while Smolkin paced the team with three hits including a double. Noah Braham also added a double with Thomas and Campbell each picking up three RBIs.
In the opening game, UHS went a more traditional route on the mound as senior Zach Harman picked up the win by throwing the first three innings and then gave way to Tyler Furbee and Logan Vance to combine for the shutout. Harman allowed just one hit and struck out four for his first victory of the season.
Noah Braham had an RBI double in the game while Chase Edwards added two hits and one RBI and Jake Croston added an RBI double. Thomas also had a double and scored a run.
With two straight victories, the Hawks are now back at .500 before traveling to Spring Mills on Monday for a 5 p.m. contest. They return home on Tuesday when they host North Marion at 5 p.m. for senior night.
“It’s always good to get two wins,” Comport said. “We have a big week coming up and hopefully we can build some momentum heading into next week with these two victories.”
By ERIC HERTER
Game One
HHS 000 000 0 – 0 4 1
UHS 001 120 X – 4 6 2
HAMPSHIRE – Charlton 4 0 1 0, Stump 3 0 0 0, Wolford 3 0 1 0, Parson 3 0 0 0, Loy 2 0 0 0, Mowery 3 0 1 0, Sulser 2 0 0 0, Frye 1 0 0 0, Orndorff 1 0 1 0, Holt 2 0 0 0. Totals: 24 0 4 0.
UHS – Latocha 3 0 1 0, Thomas 3 1 1 0, Braham 2 1 1 1, Campbell 2 0 0 0, Croston 3 0 1 1, Walters 3 0 0 0, Croyle 2 0 0 0, McDonough 1 0 0 0, Templeton 2 0 0 0, Edwards 3 1 2 1. Totals 24 4 6 3.
2B – HHS: Wolford. UHS: Braham, Thomas, Croston.
WP – Harman 3ip 1h 0r 0er 0bb 4k
LP – VanMeter 5ip 6h 4r 4er 3bb 0k
Game Two
HHS 101 300 0 – 8 10 4
UHS 160 040 X – 11 10 2
HAMPSHIRE – Charlton 5 2 3 1, Stump 4 1 1 0, Wolford 4 1 2 1, Parson 4 0 3 0, Orndorff 3 0 0 0, Mowery 3 0 1 1, Mathias 1 0 0 0, Loy 2 0 0 0, Whitacre 1 0 0 0, Frye 3 1 0 0. Totals: 30 5 10 3.
UHS – Latocha 4 2 1 1, Thomas 2 2 1 3, Braham 3 1 1 0, Campbell 3 0 2 3, Croston 2 1 0 0, Templeton 4 0 2 1, Grabo 3 1 0 0, Croyle 2 2 0 0, Smolkin 4 2 3 1. Totals: 27 11 10 9.
HR – HHS: Charlton
2B – HHS: Parsons. UHS: Barham, Smolkin
WP – Grabo 1.2ip, 3h, 2r, 2er, 0bb, 3K
LP – Frye 3.1ip, 6h, 7r, 6er, 4bb, 1k
S – Thomas 3ip, 2h, 0r, 0er, 0bb, 1k
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