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West Virginia Black Bears

Bears Take Down the Keys and Lock Down Series in 4-2 Win

July 5, 2022 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - On a cloudy Tuesday evening and wearing their "Mothman at The Mon" alternate jerseys, the West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Frederick Keys, 4-2, in a seven-inning contest at Monongalia County Ballpark. The Black Bears have won the last five consecutive matchups and 13 of the last 16 games and now have sole possession of second place in the MLB Draft League.

Frederick struck first in the top of the second inning when C Carlos Guzman doubled off Black Bears starting pitcher Jeremy Cook. Guzman advanced to third due to a wild pitch that set up 1B Anthony Herron Jr. for an RBI single. Cook managed to get out of the inning without sustaining any further damage after a groundout and a strikeout, but not before the Keys took a 1-0 lead.

The Black Bears answered in the home half of the inning when 1B Marek Chlup notched the first hit of the inning with a hard-hit single to center field. Chlup got into scoring position on a wild throw to first on a pickoff attempt by Keys' pitcher Jonathan Pintaro. A single from RF Kyle Hess put runners on the corners, just in time for SS Sam Antonnaci to drive in the first Black Bears run of the game with an RBI sac-fly to deep center field.

With two outs in the second, Pintaro struggled to find the strike zone, walking four batters to plate three more Bears for a 4-1 West Virginia lead heading into the third.

The Keys' cut into the deficit the next inning when SS Harold Coll drove a ball hard over the left field wall for a solo homerun. However, this would be the last time Frederick managed any offensive production.

West Virginia's pitching and defensive efforts held the Keys scoreless the remainder of the game. Cook, in his second start of the season, finished after four innings of work, recording two strikeouts and giving up five hits and the only two runs of the game. Oregon commit Turner Spoljaric entered in relief heading into the fifth inning. Spoljaric (2-1) got his second win of the season, as he kept the Keys from crossing home through the fifth, allowing just two hits with one strikeout.

Following Spoljaric, LHP Branden Noriega took to the mound in the sixth. In his single-inning appearance, Noriega showcased his velocity, striking out one batter and producing slow ground balls for easy defensive plays in another scoreless inning. The Black Bears bullpen persisted in the seventh as Illinois University product, Tommy Green, earned his first save and secured the 4-2 win for the Black Bears.

West Virginia returns for the series finale against the Frederick Keys at Monongalia County Ballpark on Wednesday evening as the Bears go for their second consecutive sweep. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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