Baseball Completes Three-Game Sweep of West Virginia, 9-4

BOX SCORE (.html) 
BOX SCORE (.pdf)

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Sophomore starter Brian Gilbert (Toms River, N.J.) was perfect through five innings and the Seton Hall baseball team defeated West Virginia, 9-4, on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Mountaineers.

The victory is the fifth straight for the Pirates who improve to 26-18 overall and 11-7 in BIG EAST play.  It's also the first time that Seton Hall has swept West Virginia in a three-game series since 2000.

Gilbert pitched to the minimum through five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning when West Virginia scored all of its four runs.  The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four earned runs, while striking out a career-high seven batters and not issuing a single walk for his third victory of the year.

Both starting pitchers were putting up goose eggs until Seton Hall's offense exploded in the bottom of the third.  The Pirates sent 12 men to the plate and scored six runs on six hits to take a commanding, but early, 6-0 lead.  The big hits in the inning were a two-RBI double by freshman Sal Annunizata (Bronx, N.Y.) and a two-RBI triple by senior Michael Betz (Mine Hill, N.J.).  Betz was one of three Pirates to reach base three times.  The captain would finish the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks.

Seton Hall tacked on additional single runs in innings four through six on RBIs by Giuseppe Papaccio (Nutley, N.J.), Mike Genovese (Livingston, N.J.) and Dillon Hamlin (Colts Neck, N.J.).

Scott Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa.) was one of three Pirates with two hits.  The junior capped an outstanding week for Seton Hall going 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored.  During this week's five wins, Kalamar made five starts, batting .500 including his first career home run, a grand slam at Monmouth.

Junior Frank Morris (Levittown, Pa.) came on in relief of Gilbert in the eighth and shut down West Virginia over the final two innings.

Seton Hall will return to the diamond on Tuesday, May 1 when they travel to Jersey City for a mid-week showdown with New Jersey rival Saint Peter's.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

For an interview with Seton Hall first baseman Michael Betz, click here.