The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
West Virginia
Late Homer Not Enough as Baseball Falls to West Virginia, 14-9
March 17 | Baseball
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WASHINGTON, Pa. – Despite a one-out, three-run home run off the bat of senior Joey Havrilak in the top of the ninth inning, the University of Akron baseball team fell to West Virginia by a final score of 14-9 at CONSOL Energy Park on Tuesday night.
Havrilak led Akron (8-8) offensively, which struggled to build momentum early on. The outfielder went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two stolen bases in his hometown of Washington, Pa.
The Mountaineers (9-8) unleashed early against junior right-hander Zach Beaver, who made his first career start on the mound. West Virginia plated four in the opening frame after registering five hits, including a leadoff home run.
West Virginia did not relent as it erupted in the third inning with an RBI single and a grand slam that moved the score to 9-0.
The loss was pinned on Beaver after he tossed 3.0 innings and allowed nine hits and nine runs, eight earned. The decision moves the junior to 0-1 on the season.
Sophomore reliever Evan Jensen made his second appearance of the season and kept the WVU offense under control, contributing 4.0 innings on the mound, including a scoreless fifth where he set the Mountaineers down in order. The right-hander allowed nine hits and four runs while walking none and fanning a batter as West Virginia led 12-0 through six.
After managing just three hits through the first six innings, the Akron offense began to heat up en route to posting nine total hits on the evening.
The Zips got on the board in the seventh inning after a two-run triple from senior outfielder Dan Lawrence stopped the scoring drought. Lawrence would cross on a Mountaineer miscue before Havrilak pushed another run home on an RBI single for a 12-4 game.
WVU added a pair of runs while a groundout RBI from Billy Salem helped Akron tack on another run of its own. The Zips trailed 14-5 heading into the final frame when Havrilak would belt his homer in Akron's second four-run inning of the game.
The win went to WVU starter B.J. Myers who pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while fanning six UA batters.
The Zips continue their midweek action with a game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Charles L. Cost Field.
