Baseball: WVU Drops Third Straight

By Grant Dovey for WVUsports.com
February 25, 2012 08:08 PM

Marshall Thompson

CONWAY, S.C. – The offensive woes continued for the West Virginia University baseball team on Saturday afternoon, as the Mountaineers fell 16-0 to NC State at Charles Watson Stadium in Conway, S.C.

The Wolfpack combined for 16 runs on 19 hits with two errors, while WVU was held to just two hits and made four errors.

NC State starter Logan Jernigan proved to be too much for the Mountaineer hitters as he struck out nine batters in five innings of work, leaving the game with a no-hitter. D.J Thomas came on in relief of Jernigan and threw three innings of two-hit ball, striking out six. Dillon Frye took the mound in the ninth inning and struck out one.

Left-hander Marshall Thompson lasted six innings for the Mountaineers, allowing four runs, three earned. Thompson struck out five and did not allow any walks. Austin Pressly and Gabe Brown combined to finish the final three innings, allowing 12 runs on 13 hits, with Brown striking out two.

Seven different NC State players had at least two hits, while four had at least two RBIs and five had at least two runs scored. Andrew Ciencin and Jake Fincher each went 3-for-5 and Brett Austin finished 2-for-5 with one run and three RBIs.

WVU’s hits came from Jon Roszel and Max Nogay, with Chris Rasky and Nogay each drawing walks.

NC State speedster Trea Turner got the game started quickly with a lead off first-pitch single through the left side. After advancing to third base, Turner was able to cross the plate as Ciencin was in an inning-ending run down with Turner scoring before Ciencin was tagged out.

Up 1-0 in the fourth inning, Logan Ratledge laced a double off the left center fielder wall to score Ciencin and Chris Diaz, extending the NC State lead to 3-0.

Roszel broke the NC State pitching staff’s no-hitter in the top of the sixth as he sliced a line drive into right field. Roszel stole second with two outs, but was unable to advance any further as Brown struck out to end the inning.

A sacrifice fly to center field by Austin scored Bryan Adametz for an insurance run to make it 4-0 in the fifth inning.

NC State put the game out of reach by combining for 12 runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Tarran Senay highlighted the eighth inning rally with a two RBI double and John Gianis had a two-run single up the middle in the ninth inning.

WVU completes Baseball at the Beach tomorrow with a game against George Mason at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

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