Published: May 11, 2008 10:32 pm            

‘Comeback Kids’ win another thriller

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s young baseball team, down by 4-0, came charging back Sunday afternoon at Hawley Field, following a two-hour, 15-minute rain delay, to defeat Louisville 5-4 in 10 innings and win the Big East series, 2-1.

The Mountaineers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when play resumed, then caught up at 4-all with a pair of runs in the ninth. In the 10th, shortstop Tyler Kuhn walked, took second on second baseman Jedd Gyorko’s sacrifice bunt and scored on third baseman Vince Belnome’s single to center field.

“It was unbelievable,” Coach Greg Van Zant exclaimed afterward. “Yes, this is the most comebackish team I’ve ever had. Games like this can take some years off your life.”

The Mountaineers’ magic number is one for a berth in the eight-team Big East tournament March 20-24 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.

West Virginia (34-15, 13-11) can lock up a spot by winning one of its remaining three conference games at Cincinnati in a series starting Thursday. Barring that, South Florida has to sweep Notre Dame, Villanova sweep league-leader St. John’s or Rutgers sweep Louisville on the road to beat out the Mountaineers.

“We’re still not in, but a lot of things would have to happen (to keep WVU out),” said Van Zant, who is rounding out his 14th season. “If those three teams sweep and we get swept, we’re out. But I told the players I couldn’t be more proud of them. They play hard and they never quit.

“Yes, it looks like the odds are in our favor. But it’s never over til it’s over, you know."

Each team collected 11 hits, with Jarryd Summers (4-2) the winning pitcher. He took over from starter Billy Gross after the long rain delay, allowing just two harmless hits in four innings. Gross had allowed nine hits, the four runs and three walks.

B.J. Rosenburg (5-4) took the loss. He went 3.2 innings, giving up three runs and four hits, walking two and striking out two. Starter Bob Revesz worked five innings.

Belnome, Kuhn and designated hitter Grant Buckner led WVU with two hits each. Belnome drove in two runs, while righfielder Justin Parks, Gyorko and leftfielder Mark Dvoroznak had one RBI each.

First baseman Chris Clark had a game-high four hits for Louisville (34-18, 13-11).

Weather-permitting, the Mountaineers will play a non-conference doubleheader against Youngstown State at 4 p.m. Monday at Hawley Field.

        

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