MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Limited to three hits, West Virginia lost 9-0 to Canisius on Wednesday and suffered a two-game sweep.
The Mountaineers (12-10) did not respond well from losing in extra innings the previous day and were shut out by four pitchers. Canisius (11-13), which had a 1-6 road record before winning back-to-back games at Monongalia County Ballpark, left with an RPI of 178.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of something like that,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “They were throwing pitchers that haven’t pitched much for them and our at-bats were just awful today.”
West Virginia seemingly built momentum with two wins at Kansas last weekend, but that dissipated during the midweek losses. The Mountaineers’ RPI fell from 55 to 80.
“If you were to talk to Kansas’ coaches, and say ‘What do you have on the Mountaineers?’ They’d say ‘That’s a good hitting team. Those guys can really hit.’ You talk to Canisius’ coaches about the Mountaineers, and they’d say the exact opposite. Now we just have to go figure it out,” Mazey said.
Freshman right-hander Tanner Campbell (1-1) gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Canisius scored five in the eighth against the trio of Nick Wernke, Jackson Sigman and Jaco Brewer, utilizing a costly error by Marques Inman.
WVU designated hitter Ivan Vera reached base four times, with a hit and three walks. Darius Hill and pinch-hitter Kyle Casserly also recorded hits.
First baseman Jackson Cramer walked in the fifth inning to reach base for the 42nd consecutive game.
Canisius starter Nolan Hunt (1-0) earned the win with four innings of one-hit ball.
WVU welcomes Big 12 leader Oklahoma State to Morgantown on Friday for a three-game set.