MLBDL West Virginia Black Bears

Bears Charge Back in 10-4 Win Over Spikes

Published on July 23, 2023 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - A late offensive push by the West Virginia Black Bears propelled them to a 10-4 win over the State College Spikes on Sunday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark. Catcher Tyler Dellerman drove the Black Bears offense with a stunning six RBI including a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to put West Virginia on top.

After a slow start in Saturday's loss, the Black Bears jumped all over the Spikes offensively in the first frame. Ben McClain led off the bottom of the first with a double. After a walk drawn by Patrick Lee and an infield single by Bobby Lada, Tyler Dellerman cleared the bases with a double to give West Virginia a 3-0 lead.

With the insurance from the offense, Black Bears starting pitcher Mark Faello diced through the Spikes lineup with ease. Faello began the game without giving up a hit through the first 2.1 innings. He ran into trouble in the top of the fourth after walking the first two batters. However, the starter from Hofstra University got some defensive help when Spikes' Ray Torres tried to advance to second on a fly ball. Torres was caught by Tyner Hughes as he threw him out from third for a much-needed double play. The next batter, Josh Leslie, popped out to end the inning without a run surrendered for Faello.

After five scoreless innings, West Virginia's bullpen picked up following Faello's departure at the top of the sixth. Jarrett Miller, the first pitcher out of the pen, eviscerated the State College offense. Though Miller recorded just one inning pitched, he retired the Spikes in order.

But State College stormed back after a single and a walk given by reliever Anthony Arguelles put two runners on base in the top of the seventh. With one hard-hit ball to left field, Sean Ross tied the game with a three-run home run. Arguelles faced more trouble with the go-ahead run on third and one out. After striking out Leslie, Arguelles lost control of a wild pitch that sent home Payton Harden to give the Spikes a 4-3 lead.

The Black Bears offense showed resurgence in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lee, representing the tying run, reached base by walk before he took second on an errant pick-off attempt by Spikes' Jacob Bruning. After Lada drew a walk, the Black Bears ran a successful double steal, putting the go-ahead run on second and the tying run on third. Dellerman then lifted a three-run homer to take back the lead for West Virginia.

After a series of walks drawn by West Virginia, the Bears blew the game open with the bases loaded. On the fifth offering from Bruning, McClain cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Noah Lucier drove in McClain on an RBI single to extend West Virginia's lead to 10-4.

The big seven-run inning gave enough cushion for Bears' closer Brady Choban, who took down the Spikes for the win.

Tyler Dellerman gave West Virginia the edge it needed to take the series from State College as he recorded six RBI, including three driven in on his eighth-inning home run. The University of Charleston alum went two-for-three at the plate with one run, six RBI and one strikeout.

West Virginia's pitching held the Spikes scoreless through eight innings with all four State College runs coming in the seventh. Starter Faello had another solid outing with three hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in his five innings pitched. Reliever Shandon Herrera picked up the win with his hitless, scoreless appearance in the eighth, while closer Choban retired the lineup in order with one strikeout.

With the win, West Virginia stays atop the MLB Draft League standings, two games ahead of the Trenton Thunder. The Black Bears continue their home stand on Tuesday, July 25, in a four-game series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from July 23, 2023


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