Black Bears Stumble in Game One
August 11, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL) - West Virginia Black Bears News Release
GRANVILLE, W. Va. - On a sunny afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark, the West Virginia Black Bears fell to the Auburn Doubledays 7-2. With the loss, West Virginia moves to 2.5 games back in the division race, and 1.5 behind the Brooklyn Cyclones in the Wild Card.
Fans celebrated Kids Day, with hundreds of young fans filling the ballpark with their families. Children also got the opportunity to run the bases after the game with a post-game autograph session on the field with the players.
After a quiet start, the Doubledays got on the board first in the top of the third. A single and an RBI groundout put the visitors up early. They added onto that lead in the fourth inning on a two-run triple and another RBI single to give Auburn a 5-0 advantage.
The Black Bears got one back in the bottom of the fourth. SS Ethan Paul contributed with an RBI single to centerfield to cut the deficit to just four runs.
Moving on to the top of the sixth inning, the Doubledays tacked on a pair of insurance runs. A two-run single down the right field line put the score at 7-1 heading into the final three innings.
A pair of bright spots for West Virginia came out of the bullpen. RHP Xavier Concepcion went two innings without surrendering a hit, and RHP Cameron Junker dropped his ERA to 1.37 by throwing a perfect inning in the ninth.
The Black Bears scrounged up another run in the bottom of the ninth when 3B Dean Lockery grounded into a double play with the bases loaded, but the team couldn't mount the comeback in the final frames.
West Virginia has eight hits in the ballgame compared to Auburn's seven, but went 1-8 with runners in scoring position.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow will also be Faith and Family at Monongalia County Ballpark. For more information, visit www.westvirginiablackbears.com.
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