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NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Muckdogs Out-Shine 'Shiners in Series Opener

July 23, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, WV - Despite great defensive plays and an early lead, the West Virginia Moonshiners fell to the division-leading Batavia Muckdogs by a final score of 8-3 at Monongalia County Ballpark.

RHP Braxton Ashcraft started off the game with a quick 1-2-3 inning versus Batavia. West Virginia took the home half head-on with three singles back-to-back, and a sac-fly from CF Matt Gorski that drove in 1B Will Matthiessen to give the Moonshiners an early lead of 1-0.

Both teams stayed quiet in the second, but the Muckdogs came into the third with bats blazing. Two singles and a three-run homer gave Batavia a 3-1 lead. SS Ethan Paul stepped up to the plate in the bottom and barreled a standup lead-off double, but West Virginia couldn't make much out of it.

"On the mound we have to be able to control the running game," said Moonshiners' manager Drew Saylor. "It was a tough night but failure is growth so it's a good thing we can take away from it."

Ashcraft bounced back in the fourth and retired the Muckdogs in order. The rest of West Virginia followed suit and rallied behind RF Matt Fraizer who came in with a single and made it home off a fielder's choice from DH Brett Kinneman. Through the inning, the Moonshiners closed Batavia's lead to just one run at a 3-2 score.

The Muckdogs came in again with hot bats and brought in a solo homerun and an RBI double to take the score to 5-2. RHP Austin Roberts relieved Ashcraft and closed the inning with a strikeout to avoid further damage.

The next three innings, the "Shiners struggled to find much as Batavia retired the next nine West Virginia batters in order. Roberts maintained the defense and allowed only a single in the sixth. The seventh brought another homerun for the Muckdogs that brought in two runs and extended their lead to 7-2. Batavia found another run in the eighth off a wild pitch to make their lead 8-2.

The Moonshiners showed signs of life in the bottom as Paul ended the dry spell with a single in the gap and was batted home by a single off the bat of 3B Jared Triolo. This gave West Virginia a run and took the score to 8-3. In the top of the ninth, Paul continued his great outing and made an amazing diving snag on a line drive to secure the first out. RHP Cameron Junker finished off the next two Muckdogs with two strikeouts. Despite great defensive plays, the Moonshiners couldn't muster a comeback and fell with a final score of 8-3.

"You have to take tonight as a learning lesson," said Saylor. "We have to give the opposition what they earn and nothing more and I think that's something we can learn from."

The Moonshiners return tomorrow for the second game of the series against the Muckdogs with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit our website or call (304) 293-7653.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 23, 2019


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