Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

Contact: Josh Rattray

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Sophomore Josh Hungerman made sure first-year head coach Kevin Kocks would get his first win at CSU in the season's opening weekend, pitching a three-hit shutout to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 win over West Virginia Sunday at Ernie Shore Stadium. The win moves CSU to 1-2 on the season while WVU falls to 2-1.

The game was a pitcher's duel between Hungerman and West Virginia's Matt Yurish each pitched shutout ball into the seventh. West Virginia brought in Josh Whitlock in the eighth and the Vikings struck quickly. With junior catcher Sam Clyde on second with one out, senior outfielder John Westra crushed an RBI double to left center to give CSU a 1-0 lead. Sophomore infielder Matt Madrid followed that by reaching on an error that sent Westra to third.

After Westra was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice for the second out, junior DH Josh Geric hit a pop-up in the infield that appeared to be the inning's final out, but WVU first baseman Jordan Yost dropped the ball, allowing Madrid to score to make it 2-0.

"We had some execution on offense," Kocks said. "We made the plays on offense at the right times."

With the way Hungerman pitched, a pair of runs was plenty to give CSU the win. Hungerman fanned eight with just one walk. Only twice did a Mountaineer baserunner advance to third base.

"Josh followed the pitching system that we have in place," Kocks said. "When we get strong efforts like that, it gives our defense the chance to make routine plays. And that gives us a chance to hit."

Senior outfielder Marc Sikora doubled and scored on a squeeze bunt in the ninth to provide the final margin.

Cleveland State had two chances to score early in the ballgame, with the first coming in the top of the fourth when Madrid led off the frame with a double down the left-field line. The very next batter, junior Bobby Cash, smoked a line drive to WVU first baseman Mike Schmidt, who doubled Madrid at second to clear the bases with two outs.

CSU next threatened in the fourth when junior outfielder Wallace Richardson led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a sac bunt by Westra. Madrid walked to put runners on first and second with one out, but Yurish retired the next two Vikings in order to end the inning.

The Mountaineers threatened in the bottom of the second, as Michael Burger doubled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch with just one out. Hungerman answered by striking out Mike Schmidt and then getting Austin Markel to fly to left to end the inning.

Cleveland State heads to Charleston, S.C. for three games starting Friday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m. against Charleston Southern. CSU faces College of Charleston at 1:00 p.m. the next day and then closes the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Charleston Southern on Sunday, Feb. 25.