The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

Ten in a row, and how the hard stuff begins

May 18, 2016 by Mike Casazza

Three frames to note: West Virginia, maybe a bit too comebacky last week, scored three times in the second inning, which helps on the road. In the bottom of the third, Pitt tied the score, and starter Braden Zarbnisky only lasted those three innings. The relief? Manager Randy Mazey had a lot of arms to use, but in a mid-week game that, as noted, he could not lose, he went to Ross Vance, his No. 2 starter.

Vance went 3.2 scoreless innings, and he either threw or only threw 62 pitches, which I’ll magnify in a moment. The game cruised along, and WVU started bunting all over the yard, which paid dividends, in a four-run ninth. A walk and successive bunt singles loaded the bases, and Jackson Cramer drove in a run with a sac fly. Ray Guerrini, who homered in the eighth, clubbed a safety squeeze.

The Mountaineers had six bunt singles and three safety squeezes.

A more characteristic two-run double from Kyle Davis, who also homered earlier, followed, and WVU had a six-run lead. Mazey nevertheless used closer Blake Smith in the ninth, and that was that. Smith had two strikeouts, including one to end the game, and WVU continues to be very assertive on the mound.

Big 12 series are typically Friday-Saturday-Sunday, but this week’s series are Thursday-Friday-Saturday so teams can steal a day of rest before the conference tournament begins next week.

We can safely assume Chad Donato will continue as the No. 1 starter Thursday, but what happens Friday? Vance probably can’t go on two days rest, so that spot probably goes to Michael Grove, the freshman who’s been a little filthy is again the Big 12’s newcomer of the week.

On Saturday? Vance? Probably not, though, again, he didn’t throw a ton of pitches. We’ll learn today for sure, but the guess is the start goes to Connor Dotson, who’s been good in his last two No. 3 starts — 11 innings, four runs — and then Vance, who now has bullpen reps after his first relief appearance this season. Figure anyone who can feel his arm would be available to help.