NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Bullpen Stifles Spikes

July 18, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, WV - The Black Bears nabbed their second win of the series against the State College Spikes Thursday night at Monongalia County Ballpark. Using a variety of Bears from the bullpen, West Virginia shut down the Spikes' offense and took advantage of their defense to win the game by a final score of 6-1.

The ballgame began with little action out of the batter's box from either team. The Black Bears defense kept the Spikes down and out. West Virginia's starting pitcher RHP Noe Toribio had a strong outing, as he threw four strikeouts in his first three innings and allowed only two hits.

In the third inning the Black Bears blew the game open with a single by C Elys Escobar, a double by 1B Brendt Citta and a three-run homer off the bat of SS Ethan Paul giving West Virginia a 3-0 lead. Paul - who joined the team late after winning the College World Series with Vanderbilt - recorded the first homerun of his professional career.

"(Paul) is starting to put some good swings on the ball," said Black Bears manager, Drew Saylor. "We talk a lot about attacking fastballs and closing windows and getting the game and practice a little bit closer."

The Black Bears' attack didn't stop there. Their charge continued through the third with 3B Jared Triolo taking a walk before coming home on an RBI single from LF Matt Gorski. CF Matt Fraizer stepped up and hit another single to bring home Gorski. The inning came to a close with West Virginia taking a commanding lead at 5-0.

State College attempted to muster a rebuttal in the fourth but was cut short by the Bears and Toribio who allowed only one run to end the inning at 5-1. In the fifth, West Virginia didn't give the Spikes a break, and Toribio closed the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

"I think (Toribio) is a very effective pitcher," said Saylor. "Tonight I was really excited to see him get a win but also to see him pitch to his full potential."

The sixth brought in new-arrival and West Virginia native, RHP Bear Bellomy, who joined the team from the Bristol Pirates. Bellomy made a strong start to his Black Bears career when he retired the Spikes in order. He was relieved after one inning by RHP Alec Rennard who followed suit and shut out State College with a 1-2-3 frame in the seventh.

In the eighth, RHP Xavier Concepcion took the mound and closed out the top with three strikeouts in a row. In the home half, another Black Bear was brought home. Fraizer got on base off a single and was batted home by a double off the bat of Citta to extend the West Virginia lead to 6-1. Concepcion kept on the pressure into the ninth and took down the final three Spikes in order.

West Virginia will continue its series against State College tomorrow, then hit the road for a three-game series against the Auburn Doubledays. Tomorrow night also brings Friday Night Fireworks, presented by City National Bank.

For more information on upcoming games or promotions, visit www.westvirginiablackbears.com.

Check out the West Virginia Black Bears Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from July 18, 2019


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