The West Virginia University baseball team returns to BIG EAST action this weekend with a series at Rutgers from April 13-15. Friday’s game will begin at 3 p.m., while Saturday’s and Sunday’s games each begin at 1 p.m.
WVU was last in action on Wednesday evening, falling 3-0 at Maryland. Previously the Mountaineers took two-of-three from Villanova in a home series last weekend.
Sophomore right-hander Corey Walter (3-3, 5.72 ERA) will start Friday’s game for the Mountaineers. Walter has gone at least six innings in his last six starts, and has walked three in his last four starts. Left-handed sophomore Marshall Thompson (3-4, 4.84 ERA) will start Saturday’s game, while Sunday’s starter has not been determined.
Rutgers coach Fred Hill will counter with junior right-hander Tyler Gebler (1-3, 5.50 ERA) in game one, junior left-hander Rob Smorol (4-2, 3.61 ERA) in game two and senior right-hander Ryan Fasano (2-3, 4.15 ERA) in game three.
WVU enters the weekend with sophomore first baseman Ryan McBroom leading the team in hitting with a .317 batting average. McBroom has 19 runs, 11 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBIs. Sophomore left fielder Matt Frazer (.310) and freshman Bobby Boyd (.305) are second and third, respectively, in batting average. Frazer has a team-leading 14 doubles with four homers and 17 RBIs, while Boyd leads the team with 15 stolen bases.
Rutgers defeated Fordham, 15-4, in a midweek contest, after dropping two-of-three the previous weekend to St. John’s.
Patrick Kivlehan leads the Rutgers hitting attack, batting .381 with 23 runs, six doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Brian O’Grady is hitting .328 with 26 runs, and a team-leading eight doubles, while Nick Favatella leads the team with 30 runs and 24 RBIs.