WVU Preview

[NBHorn7]

It is a pivotal series for both teams as WVU hopes to continue a hot streak and make a regional.

Texas hopes to finish strong and still host a regional instead of being a #2 seed in somewhere like Houston or Baton Rouge.




MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University baseball team hosts No 11. Texas in a Big 12 Conference series this weekend. The series also will close the doors on Hawley Field, the home of the Mountaineers since 1971.

Game one begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, game two begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday and the first pitch for game three is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets cost $7 for reserved seating, $5 for general admission, $3 for seniors and youths 18 and under, and WVU students are admitted free with a valid student ID.

The games will be video streamed on WVUsports.com, while the radio broadcast will be on select affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG with Jeff Culhane and Ernie Galusky on the call.

The Mountaineers (24-16, 7-7 Big 12) enters the weekend on a six-game winning streak and have won eight of their last 10 games. The Longhorns (33-13, 10-8 Big 12) are 5-5 in their last 10 games, dropping two-of-three last weekend against Oklahoma State. WVU sits in a tie for fifth place in the Big 12 standings, while Texas is in fourth place.

Coach Randy Mazey will send junior left-hander Harrison Musgrave (4-3, 1.95 ERA) to the mound Friday, sophomore left-hander Ross Vance (3-0, 2.57 ERA) on Saturday and junior left-hander John Means (5-1, 2.10 ERA) on Sunday.

Musgrave went 8.0 shutout innings last Friday in a win over Kansas State, picking up his first win since March 8. He allowed three hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Vance started two games last week, going 2-0 with wins over Maryland and Kansas State. Vance allowed two runs on eight hits in 13.0 innings with 13 strikeouts and one walk.

Junior right fielder Brad Johnson batted 8-for-18 (.444) with 10 RBIs, three runs, two doubles, one triple and one stolen base last week. Junior center fielder Bobby Boyd paces the team with a .379 batting average, eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBIs and a team-leading 15 stolen bases. Senior first baseman Ryan McBroom is hitting .348 and leading the team with seven homers and 40 RBIs.

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The Mountaineers are No. 5 in the Big 12 in team ERA (3.38), while the Texas staff is ranked No. 1 (2.22). WVU ranks No. 3 in team batting average (.290), and Texas is ranked No. 8 (.257).

Texas coach Augie Garrido will counter with right-hander Parker French (5-3, 2.08 ERA) on Friday, left-hander Dillon Peters (5-3, 2.50 ERA) on Saturday and right-hander Nathan Thornhill (6-2, 1.85 ERA) on Sunday.

Outfielder Mark Payton is leading the team with a .355 batting average, adding nine doubles, five triples, one home run, 28 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Outfielder Ben Johnson is hitting .294 with six doubles, three triples, five homers, 25 RBIs and 16 stolen bases, while catcher Tres Barrera has 10 doubles, two triples, two homers and 26 RBIs.

West Virginia leads the all-time series, 2-1, winning two-of-three last season in Austin.






The Link



This is the video link for Friday's game and all the games will be streamed live here.

 

[WorsterMan]

This IS a critical series for the Horns - I am still stunned they got swept at home last week by the lowly toads. Lot's of men in scoring position last week, but the bats were anemic. Horn bats better come alive this week.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

We need a sweep

 

[Brad Austin]

We definitely need to go 6-1 at worst in the final 2 series, and 7-1 in final 8 overall games. 40-14 (16-9 conf) record would still look solid. Just winning both series isn't enough to show much improvement, IMHO. We need to get 40 wins heading into conf tourney. Still a tall order with what we've put out lately.

This would be the ideal series to sweep as the opponent has much more clout. Likely wouldn't help in competing for the conference title but would at lease give us 3rd place and a hot streak heading to conf tourney. Come on Horns, step it up!

 

[Brad Austin]

After that abortion of a loss last night, it's now do-or-die for this team. They may can afford one more conference loss at the absolute worst, but it can't come at the hands of West Va. To lose this series would in all likelihood land Texas either 4th or 5th in the final standings. 3rd would be out of reach since the current 3rd, 4th, and 6th teams play each other their last 2 conf series. Somebody should come out looking formidable and take 3rd.

So this is it Horns. Are you a team just below the cusp of the 2 best conference teams? A group looking to rearrange that and climb beyond the reg season? A young club that is learning on the job and poised to turn on the jets in post-season play?

Or are you just another mid-range conference team that will get spanked on a relatively bad day, and can be dangerous on a good day. But in the end the constant inconsistency makes you no real threat in marquee showdowns? Hell, even a team that will get booted in a regional to an inferior team because the hibernating bats don't show up?

It's time to show us what you got these next 2 days and how bad you want it. The people who watch every game of yours we can get our hands on when we can't make it to the park. At least we'll know what your made of before we get to the post-season. We deserve it for our strong effort supporting you through the ups and downs.

Lose either of these 2 and you might wanna pack your suitcase for the likely regional road-trip. The fans are still here with you waiting to have something to be proud about. How about you help us out. Hook 'em!