MORGANTOWN — The West Virginia University baseball team heads to St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla., to take part in the second annual Big Ten/Big East Challenge on Feb. 26-28.
The Mountaineers (0-3) lead off with Indiana on Friday at 1 p.m. at Jack Russell Stadium, then follow with a Saturday matchup against Iowa at 1 p.m. at the Naimoli Complex. WVU ends the conference challenge versus Michigan State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium, but plays an additional game against Big Ten opponent Purdue on Monday at noon at Jack Russell Stadium.
“We’re looking forward to playing at an outstanding tournament,” 16th-year coach Greg Van Zant said.” This is one of the best early-season tournaments in the country, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to play some quality teams from the Big Ten.”
Redshirt junior Grant Buckner led WVU at the plate last weekend at the Caravelle Resort Tournament, going 5-for-12 with one home run, two RBIs and eight total bases. Preseason All-American Jedd Gyorko also had a home run and two RBIs, both coming against nationally ranked Coastal Carolina last Friday.
WVU was reliant on its newcomers in its opening weekend, as a total of 10 freshmen and junior college transfers either started or made an appearance at last weekend’s games, including three pitchers and seven position players. Freshman left fielder Matt Frazer led the newcomers with a 3-for-5 performance in Conway, S.C.
The Mountaineers are expected to throw junior right-hander Jarryd Summers against the Hoosiers (1-3) on Friday afternoon. The Sharpsville, Pa., native gave up one run on four hits in 3.2 innings against Coastal Carolina last Friday, resulting in a no decision. The preseason all-Big East team member defeated Indiana in WVU’s season-opener last year, striking out nine and giving up just one run in five innings pitched.
Indiana’s probable starter is left-handed sophomore Drew Leininger, who pitched 5.2 scoreless innings as a reliever in game two of a doubleheader last weekend against 23rd-ranked San Diego. The Hoosiers fell in three of four games to the Toreros, winning their last contest 7-5.
Iowa is coming off a 13-8 loss at Austin Peay, but defeated Illinois State, 19-11, in its season-opener at Clarksville, Tenn. The Hawkeyes (1-1) have been led offensively by sophomore Mike McQuillan, who went 3-for-6 with two home runs and seven RBIs in Iowa’s lone victory. WVU and Iowa will be meeting for the first time.
WVU is 4-6 all-time against Michigan State, with their last meeting resulting in a series win for the Mountaineers in 2000. MSU junior shortstop Jonathan Roof was named Big Ten Player of the Week after going 7-for-11 with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored. The Spartans (2-1) defeated Furman and Miami (Ohio) but fell to 15th-ranked Clemson in Greenville, S.C.
Purdue, which opens its season this weekend, is projected to start senior right-hander Drew Wurdack on Monday. Wurdack went 4-1 with a 5.45 ERA in 19 appearances last season, while infielder Eric Charles is the team’s top returning hitter after batting .371 with two home runs and 21 RBIs.
WVU’s contest against Purdue is not part of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.
The Mountaineers went 2-2 against Big Ten opponents last season, defeating Indiana and Northwestern while falling to Illinois and Minnesota. The Big Ten won the inaugural challenge with a 15-9 record.
WVU redshirt sophomore Justin Ellis was named to the 2009 Big Ten/Big East Challenge all-tournament team after going 5-for-12 with two RBIs and one run scored in WVU’s three games last season.
