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Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Fall in Both Games of Twin Bill vs. Rome

April 25, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV - Despite strong starting pitching performances from Travis MacGregor and Evan Piechota, West Virginia dropped both games of their doubleheader against the Rome Braves, falling 4-3 in game one before losing in extras, 8-3, in game two, at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday evening.

GAME 1:

MacGregor turned in another strong start for West Virginia in game one, as the right-hander set down the first six men he faced in his outing and ultimately lasted five innings while allowing three runs on five hits and striking out eight. The Clearwater native did not surrender a base hit until Kurt Hoekstra doubled to lead off the third, but MacGregor beared down to strike out Garrison Schwartz and Derian Cruz to end the threat.

The Braves (11-7) would break through in the next inning, however, as Riley Delgado connected for a two-bagger of his own to begin the frame, and after MacGregor retired Jefrey Ramos and Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Drew Lugbauer stroked an RBI single to give Rome a 1-0 lead. Lugbauer would score moments later as William Contreras laced a single to left to make it 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Power (10-9) would respond with three runs of their own, as Deon Stafford clubbed a two-run homer to deep left-center field for his first home run of the season to knot the game at two, and Mason Martin singled in Rodolfo Castro, who had doubled a batter prior, to give West Virginia a 3-2 lead.

That lead would be short-lived, as Rome tied things in the fifth in MacGregor's final inning of work when Delgado brought home Izzy Wilson on a groundout to third.

Matt Seelinger (0-1) relieved MacGregor for the sixth inning and had no issues mowing down Rome's lineup in order with a pair of strikeouts, but ran into trouble in the seventh. After Schwartz was set down on strikes for the third time to open the inning, Wilson reached on a throwing error by Ben Bengtson that put him at second base. The next batter, Cruz, singled to right to plate Wilson and give the Braves a 4-3 lead they would not surrender.

Walter Borkovich (2-0) earned the win after spinning 2.1 innings and ceding just three hits, while Brandon White (S, 2) earned the save with a spotless seventh.

GAME 2:

The back half of Wednesday's twin bill featured another successful start by West Virginia's pitching staff, as Piechota matched his season high with a six-inning, three-hit performance and tallied four strikeouts. Over his last 12 innings pitched, Piechota has allowed just five hits and no runs, dropping his season ERA to 0.90.

Unfortunately for the Power, Rome's starter, Bruce Zimmermann, was equally as impressive, striking out a career-high eight batters while yielding three hits and a walk over six frames. Neither team was able to tally a run through seven regulation innings, as Blake Weiman for West Virginia (10-10) and Tanner Allison for Rome tossed scoreless seventh innings.

Joel Cesar (0-1) relieved Weiman in the eighth and allowed the first two runs for Rome to score on a pair of RBI singles by Delgado and Ramos to make it 2-0 Braves. However, the Power would tie it in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single from Oneil Cruz, who plated Chris Sharpe and Raul Hernandez in the process.

Also in the eighth, Calvin Mitchell extended his team-leading hit streak to 11 games and on-base streak to 13 games after going 1-for-3 in both games of the doubleheader. Across his 11-game stretch, the reigning South Atlantic League Player of the Week is batting .422 (19-for-45) with a home run and nine RBI.

Rome (12-7) opened up the game in the ninth, tallying six runs as all nine batters came to the plate in the inning. The first three runs came across on an errant force play, a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Delgado. Wilson then followed that up with a three-run homer to right that put the contest out of reach.

The Power conclude their four-game series with Rome on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park. RHP Gavin Wallace (2-0, 4.76 ERA) takes to the slab against Rome righty Huascar Ynoa (0-2, 10.38 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com, via the TuneIn Radio App and the MiLB First Pitch App.

West Virgnia's homestand concludes with another Thirsty Thursday, presented by Rock 105. Fans can purchase $1.00 12-ounce beverages and $2.00 16-ounce cans at the concession stands, while college students who present a valid student ID at the box office can receive $2.00 off their ticket purchase. It is also University of Charleston Night at the ballpark, with a special recognition ceremony planned for the 2017 Men's Soccer National Championship team. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com .

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