Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

Contact: Josh Rattray

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - West Virginia's Justin Jenkins went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and Cleveland State gave up two big innings as the Vikings lost to West Virginia, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at Ernie Shore Stadium. The Vikings fall to 0-2 on the season, while West Virginia improves to 2-0.

Senior outfielder Marc Sikora and junior catcher Josh Geric each had two hits to lead the Vikings. Senior Brandon Hewitt (0-1) took the loss after working 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits. Jason Maxwell (1-0) was the winning pitcher for WVU.

Trailing 2-1, Virginia pulled away in the bottom of the third Tyler Kuhn led off against senior Brandon Hewitt with a double and scored on a single by Jenkins. After DH Michael Burger popped out to short, Vince Belnome doubled to send Jenkins to third. Jenkins, a preseason All-American, would score on a sac fly by Mike Schmidt to give the Mountaineers a 3-2 lead. Belnome made it 4-2 when a throw by Geric went into center field.

"Jenkins and White were pretty much their whole offense today, but that's not all that hurt us," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "Once, again, we need to stay away from giving up the big inning."

In the bottom of the fourth, Jenkins belted a two-run double to left center to make it 6-2.

The Vikings took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Senior outfielder Marc Sikora led off the frame with a double to right and then scored when junior first baseman Theo Hudson doubles to left center to make it 1-1. Hudson tagged on a fly out by junior outfielder John Westra, advancing to third, and scored the go-ahead run on a sac fly by sophomore infielder Matt Madrid.

The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Adam White, who went 4-for-5 on the day, led off with a single to left and then scored on a Justin Jenkins double.

Cleveland State pushed another run across in the top of the ninth when senior Marc Sikora doubled to the fence in left center to score junior Jeff Schellhammer, who had reached on a fielder's choice in a pinch hit at-bat.

"We had our moments, but we need our offense to create a big inning," Kocks said. "Once we're able to do that, we'll have a much better outcome."

The same two teams will conclude their three-game series Sunday at noon.