NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

West Virginia Defeats Connecticut 12-3

July 23, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.V. - West Virginia's offense exploded for 15 hits en route to a 12-3 win over the Connecticut Tigers on Saturday night from Monongalia County Ballpark. Starter RHP Luis Escobar improved to 3-2 striking out four batters through five innings while allowing just one earned run.

The Black Bears found success off of Tigers' starter LHP Austin Sodders early in the game. SS Stephen Alemais led off bottom of the first inning with a single to right field and would eventually come around to score on a two-run home run from DH Hunter Owen to give West Virginia a 2-0 lead. Sodders dropped to 0-2 on the year allowing two earned runs on four hits through three innings.

Escobar shut down the Tigers throwing the first four innings scoreless. In the bottom of the fourth inning, West Virginia's offense would erupt as an RBI single from CF Sandy Santos and two RBI singles off the bat of Alemais and Owen increased Connecticut's deficit to 7-0.

But, the Tigers would answer in the top of the fifth. A two RBI single from 2B Will Savage cut West Virginia's advantage to 7-2. Black Bears' 3B Nick King hit an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to increase the lead to 8-2.

RHP Scooter Hightower relieved Escobar in the sixth inning and hurled two scoreless innings. The Black Bears would add onto their lead in the later frames. After Santos' RBI single in the seventh, an RBI single from Owen and C Chris Harvey's two RBI ground-rule double allowed the Black Bears to pull away, 12-2. The Tigers would add a run in the ninth on SS Daniel Pinero's RBI single.

Owen led the offensive charge going 4-for-5, blasting his fifth homer of the year, with five RBI and two runs scored. Santos went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. For Connecticut, DH Blaise Salter went 2-for-4 as the Tigers were outhit by the Black Bears for the third time this series, 15-8.

Tomorrow night, the Black Bears (18-17) will open up a three game set with the Lowell Spinners (20-15) at 4:05 PM from Monongalia County Ballpark on Family Sunday.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 23, 2016


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