Aviators Hang on to Top Miners
Published on May 31, 2019 under Prospect League (Prospect)
Lafayette Aviators News Release
Beckley, WV- On an overcast night in Beckley, WV, the Lafayette Aviators hung on to top the West Virginia Miners with a final score of 6-4.
Mason Sykes (Wabash Valley) lead off the scoring for the Aviators in the top of the third. After Blake Schmitt (Purdue) and Trey Sweeney (Eastern Illinois) drew consecutive walks, Sykes roped a double into right-center field to score both baserunners. Max Montgomery (Milwaukee Area) then followed up with an RBI single to score Sykes from second base.
Bryce Grossius (Southeast Missouri State) gave the Aviators the start they needed on the mound. Through five innings, Grossius gave up just one earned run off the bat of Ross Mulhall. Mulhall knocked one over the wall in the bottom of the fifth inning, cutting the Aviators' lead to 3-1.
Despite the dinger, Grossius was outstanding. The SEMO sophomore only recorded three strikeouts but controlled the Miners' bats early. At one-point Grossius retired 13 consecutive West Virginia batters.
After the Miners were able to push across their second run in the sixth inning following a pair of base hits, the Aviators answered back in the seventh as night began to fall in the Mountain State. Blake Schmitt earned his way on base when he was hit by a pitch, and then Mason Sykes drew a walk to put runners at first and second. With Matt Mackey (Eastern Illinois) at the plate, Schmitt swiped third base. The next pitch was grounded by Mackey to third base, and when the Miners tried to turn a 5-4-3 double play, Sykes slid in hard to second to break up the double play and allow Schmitt to score from third.
In the seventh inning, West Virginia again strung together two consecutive hits. Jonathan Pasillas doubled to bring in Ross Mulhall to make it a one-run game at 4-3.
The Miners went on to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth inning, but Lafayette was not fazed. The Aviators were able to load the bases in the top of the ninth inning. With one out, Matt Mackey took a bruise for the boys and earned his way to first base by getting hit with a pitch. With the bases still loaded, Chris Monroe (Illinois Springfield) sent a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in the final run of the game.
The Aviators will take on West Virginia again on Saturday at 6:35 PM ET for game three of the series.
Prospect League Stories from May 31, 2019
- Aviators Hang on to Top Miners - Lafayette Aviators
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