MORGANTOWN – As Nuke Laloosh so eloquently said in the movie ‘Bull Durham’ – “I love winning, it’s like better than losing.”
The University High School baseball team certainly knows all about what the fictional pitcher was saying as the No. 9 ranked Hawks are doing a lot of winning right now.
On Wednesday, UHS picked up its eighth straight victory with a 10-8 decision over perennial power, No. 7 ranked, Bridgeport.
“Safe to say we are playing with a ton of confidence,” UHS head coach Brad Comport said. “Obviously eight straight and I think in the majority of those games we have put up double-digit runs. Our offense is playing really, really well and we are scoring in most innings, and we are putting together lots of really great at-bats. That’s obviously going to add to your confidence any time you do that.”
Wednesday’s contest wasn’t without its drama as UHS (14-8) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning as it took advantage of four Bridgeport errors only to see the Indians tie the game in the third inning thanks to three walks, one error and two timely hits.
In the past, that might have been enough for the Hawks to begin questioning things against the defending regional champions. But not this time as UHS responded every time that Bridgeport threatened to take control of the contest.
“Any time you are putting balls in play consistently you have a chance of good things happening,” Comport said. “I think we did a good job of limiting strikeouts and putting balls in play and I think we did a good job of capitalizing on those errors.”
Bridgeport took an 8-5 lead in the fourth inning as Andrew Bell hit a two-run single for the big blow in the inning that also featured two walks and three hits.
But UHS responded in the bottom of the fourth as it grabbed the lead right back by scoring four runs on four hits and with the help of one Bridgeport error.
Cody Thomas and Noah Braham each had an RBI single in the frame while Wenkai Campbell added an RBI double.
“I think right now we have (Bridgeport) on their backs,” Thomas said of the Hawks’ regular season sweep that likely secures home-field advantage throughout sectional play. “Hopefully we can just keep them like that.”
The Hawks added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Braham slugged a two-out double that rattled off the Shilling Field fence and later scored when catcher Jake Croston drew a bases-loaded walk.
That was enough for Thomas who picked up his fourth save of the season by pitching the final three innings.
“I was just trying to attack them” Thomas said of his performance on the mound. “You can’t go deep in the counts, and I was just trying to go right at them.”
Thomas allowed just one hit in his three innings of work with three strikeouts. Daniel Grabo picked up the victory in relief of starter Zach Harman who struck out five in his three and two-thirds innings of work.
Braham led the Hawks with three hits including a double while Wenkai Campbell was 1-for-2 with a double and Gabe Jansen added a two-run single.
University returns to action today when it travels to Preston for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
By ERIC HERTER
University 10, Bridgeport 8
BHS 004 400 0 – 8 6 6
UHS 041 401 X – 10 9 1
BHS – Rohrig 4 2 0 1, Baun 2 0 0 0, Reed 3 2 1 1, Bell 2 0 1 2, Benson 1 0 0 0, Duvall 4 0 2 0, Lively 4 0 0 0, Peasak 3 1 1 0, Bastin 2 0 1 0, Curry 2 1 0 0. Totals: 27 8 6 3.
UHS – Latocha 3 0 1 0, Thomas 4 1 1 1, Braham 4 3 3 1, Campbell 2 2 1 1, Templeton 1 1 0 1, Croston 3 1 0 1, Jansen 4 2 1 2, Walters 3 0 1 1, Smolkin 2 1 1 0. Totals: 26 10 9 7.
2B – UHS: Braham, Campbell
WP – Grabo
LP – Stavrakis
S – Thomas
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