Greetings from East Bank, West Virginia ! Running Blog of WV Tech's Double Header...

The photo here was taken across the highway from the ball park. Don't know if the "Ice Show" will survive the day but that it looked pretty cool.

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Coming to you today from Douglas M. Epling Field on the campus of East Bank Middle School in beautiful southern West Virginia. Yahoo Weather tells us it is already 57 degrees and there is not a cloud in the sky.
West Virginia Tech is home today for the second time this season and the Golden Bears will be hosting Lindsey Wilson of Columbia, Kentucky. First pitch is set for 1:00 P.M. with game two getting under way 20+ minutes following the conclusion of the opener. The Blue Raiders are a Conference foe and this marks the league opener.
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12:41 P.M. - Minutes away from the NAIA Mid-South Conference opener and I just checked the comments box to find that I am getting heckled for dragging Sacco down on our Web Casts.Just can't escape it and since we know that only our families watch them, it doubles the pain.

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1:00 P.M. - Game time and once again it is former Waynesboro General Pistol Pete Vandenbout on the hill for the Golden Bears. Always fun to watch one of our Alum...

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1:19 P.M.- End of 1ST - WVT 1-0... Vandenbout pitched around a solid single and a walk with no outs and then Jonathan Rodriguez scored on a double from Gerardo Hernandez.

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1:39 P.M. - End of 2ND - Golden Bears leave the bases loaded but still lead 1-0. Vandenbout still just game opening single allowed. WVT was picked to finish 6TH in the Mid-South and L-Wilson voted fourth.

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1:55 P.M. - End of 3RD - Three more hard hit balls for the Golden Bears but the lead is still 1-0 in runs, 6-1 in hits. Pete is back out for a fourth inning of work.

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2:07 P.M. - Top of 4TH - Vandenbout leaves the game with what would appear to be a blister but manages to get a HUGE strike out before turning the ball over to reliever Brian Rodriguez. Runners on second & third with 2 down- Golden Bears need a big out... 4-U on the fielders choice! Pistol Pete's final line is 3.2 innings, 2 hits, 3 walks, 4 strike outs, 0 earned runs.

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2:21 P.M. - Top of 5TH- Golden Bears still up 1-0 and B-Rod is back on the mound. The right hander is from San Juan, PR.

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2:35 P.M. - Third pitcher takes the mound for Ness in the top of the 5TH.Jeffrey Krauklis from nearby Clay, WV starnds runners on second & third. Off to the bottom of 5TH - still 1-0.

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2:49 P.M - Golden Bears break it open on the strength of a 3-run bomb that cleared the railroad tracks behind the wall in left center field. Willie Bays, a recent transfer from West Virginia State, crushed the ball and then some. WVT plates 4 in the fifth and takes a 5-0 lead to the sixth!

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2:56 P.M. - This just in - Krauklis is nasty or as Danny Flores says "sic". 4 K's in 7 hitters and we have our first 1-2-3 half inning.

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3:08 P.M. - Krauklis strands one final runner on third base and secures the shut out! The righty goes 3.0 innings and records 5 K's while allowing just 2 hits. The visitors finished with just 4 hits in the opener. Golden Bears are 1-0 in conference...

Lindsey Wilson...000...000...0 - 0 / 4 / 3

West Va. Tech....100....040...X - 5/ 10/ 0

67 degrees at games end...

Star of the game-

Bays 2-3, (HR) 3RBI

Hernandez - 3-3, reached base all 4 plate appearances.

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4:13 P.M. - Game 2 gets off to a rough start for the WVT nine. Bottom of the 2ND- Blue Raiders lead 5-0.

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4:42 P.M. - Two pieces of great News. I am getting to chat with Mrs. Turks on line (always good vibes from Teresa) and the Golden Bears are rallying big time. The score is now 5-3 in the bottom of the third with two runners on base!

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4:47 P.M. - Heading to the top of the 4TH and the score is now 5-4!

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4:55 P.M. - 6-4-3 DP ends the top of the 4TH, Golden Bears will now look for equalizer!

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5:01 P.M. - Kevin Whitley turned a flair in to a double and came around to score the tying at 5-5. Heading to the top of the 6TH inning.

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5:07 P.M. - Blue Raiders hit solo HR to deep left center- regain lead at 6-5, still batting in top of 6TH. Starter Victor Zayas exits after allowing a 2 out bunt single.

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5:13 P.M. - Down to their final 9 outs, Golden Bears need a run.

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5:19 P.M. - 2 down, tying run on second base... Line drive, hit hard but right at right fielder. Off to the top of the 6TH, down 6-5.

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5:24 P.M. - 2 run bomb makes it 8-5 Blue Raiders, looking bleak for the sweep now.

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5:53 P.M. - Down to the final out, WVT stays alive with a walk but then the final out is recorded.

The day goes in the books as a split for West Virginia Tech. WVT now 2-4,1-1 and the Blue Raiders 4-4,1-1.

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