West Virginia tops Texas 11-2 in weekend opener

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Another Big 12 weekend series in Morgantown means another chance for West Virginia to find consistency heading into the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship — the team’s final hope at an NCAA regional appearance in 2016.

In front of 1,500 plus on a rainy night, the Mountaineers (25-19, 9-9) took Friday’s series opener against the Longhorns (21-25, 9-10) in a Texas-sized way.

The Mountaineers found success from batters one through nine Friday night, recording hits by everyone with a plate appearance, and put together 11 runs on 15 hits en route to the 11-2 (box score) victory, giving coach Randy Mazey his 300th career win, over the Longhorns.

Braden Zarbnisky, Ivan Vera and Jackson Cramer led the way offensively, each recording two hits and two RBIs in the win.

Shaun Wood was the other two RBI guy for the Mountaineers, but he did so as a pinch hitter and needing just one swing. Wood hit the only home run for West Virginia in the 11-run outing.

Chad Donato (3-3, 2.92) got the win allowing just five hits through seven innings of work. Donato allowed two runs, both earned, and struck out six in his 122-pitch night.

“It’s not easy to pitch when every time you throw a pitch, the ball gets wet and the mound gets slippery,” said coach Mazey.

“That wasn’t his best stuff, but that was his grittiest performance.”

Following Donato’s seven innings was reliever Jackson Sigman who needed just 22 pitches to blaze through the final six batters. Sigman was an inning shy of the old-fashioned, three inning save, but managed to drop his ERA below five at 4.97.

Behind Donato and Sigman was catcher-turned-third baseman Ivan Vera, once again, who made a big league-quality web gem on the hot corner. Vera took extra bases from Texas infielder Joe Baker as he stole a line drive that nearly got away from the broadcast camera above home.

Vera, now batting .444 as a true freshman, recorded four put outs and three assists from third while drawing a walk and scoring two runs to go with his RBIs.

The Mountaineers look to take their second straight Big 12 series, and they’ll have two chances to do so, as they face off with Texas Saturday at 2 p.m. (moved up from 4 p.m. due to probable rain) and Sunday at 1 p.m.