NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Walk-Off on Williamsport

July 5, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, W. Va. - On an overcast evening at Monongalia County Ballpark, the West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters 3-2.

After offensive fireworks in last night's game, the Black Bears' bullpen headlined tonight's matchup, holding the Crosscutters to only four hits in the ballgame.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for West Virginia at the beginning. With ominous clouds looming overhead, Williamsport opened up with two runs in the top of the third inning to take an early lead.

P Nicholas Economos took the mound with vengeance for the Black Bears, getting the final two outs of the third inning to keep the deficit at 2-0.

In the bottom of the third, West Virginia got one run back. After 2B Robbie Glendinning reached base with a double, CF Travis Swaggetry chipped in with a double of his own to put the score at 2-1.

Fighting to keep his team in the game, Economos pitched a gem out of the bullpen for the Black Bears. The righty allowed just one hit and zero runs in four and two-thirds innings of work, striking out four batters while walking two.

Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, West Virginia scraped in another run. With the bases loaded, 3B Mike Gretler was hit by a pitch to bring a runner home and tie the game at 2-2.

West Virginia racked up a total of 11 hits in the ballgame, but struggled bringing men around to score. The Black Bears left 13 runners on base, relying on an impressive night from the bullpen to keep the game close.

With Economos' night done after the seventh inning, P Juan Henriquez came into the game and picked up where his teammate left off. The righty reliever threw two scoreless innings without giving up a hit, striking out three batters in the process.

In the bottom of the ninth, West Virginia came up big. After a CF Daniel Amaral single and walks to 1B Luke Mangieri and RF Brett Kinneman, the bases were loaded with a chance to get the team's first walk-off win of the season.

That walk-off came from SS Connor Kaiser. With the game on the line, Kaiser worked a five-pitch walk to bring home the winning run, giving the Black Bears the series win.

West Virginia goes for the sweep of Williamsport tomorrow night at Monongalia County Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 5, 2018


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