WVU Upsets No. 18 Louisville in Walk-off Fashion

By Grant Dovey for WVUsports.com
May 05, 2012 07:27 PM

Corey Walter

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - A two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth by freshman second baseman Billy Fleming led the WVU baseball team to a 4-3 victory over No. 18 Louisville in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday evening at Hawley Field.

WVU entered the final frame down 3-1 as Louisville brought in closing pitcher Derek Self. Self walked freshman center fielder Bobby Boyd to lead off, while a single through the left side by sophomore first baseman Ryan McBroom put the tying run on base. Junior shortstop John Polonius brought the game to 3-2 with an RBI double to deep left center field, which was following by an identical double by Fleming in the next at bat to drive in McBroom, the game-winning run.

WVU right-handed sophomore Corey Walter (5-4) earned the victory with a complete game in which he allowed just three runs on six hits, and pitched through a 2 hour, 24 minute rain delay. In his second-consecutive complete game, Walter struck out five and walked four.

Louisville starter Justin Amlung pitched a gem for the Cardinals, lasting eight innings and allowing one run on two hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts.

WVU (18-27, 6-13 BIG EAST) finished the game with four runs on five hits with an error, while Louisville (31-15, 12-7) scored three runs on six hits without committing an error.

Polonius led WVU at the plate with two hits, while McBroom, Fleming and sophomore third baseman Nate Antone recorded one hit apiece. Antone drove in WVU’s first run of the game in the second inning with an RBI single into left field.

The teams will be back in action for game two at 7:30 p.m. The game will be video and audio streamed through MSNsportsNET.com, while local fans can listen on WAJR 1440-AM.

[View Category Article List]