NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

West Virginia Walks It off for the Second Time to Take the Series

Published on June 30, 2019 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, WV - For the second time in two days, the Black Bears won in spectacular fashion as they walked it off in the ninth inning to come out on top of the Crosscutters 3-2 at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Mirroring yesterday's comeback rally that resulted in a 6-5 win over Williamsport, West Virginia struggled early as their offense strove to find its footing. Late in the game, the Black Bears' offense came alive as they ended the three-run ninth inning with a two-out RBI single batted in by 1B Nick Patten. With their victory this afternoon, they take two-of-three games from the Crosscutters and improve to 9-7 on the season.

"We talk about finishing, we talk about playing for all 27 outs," said Black Bears Manager Drew Saylor. "So as long as we still have one out left we grind out our at bats and swing at stuff that we can hit hard we get a chance to do that."

West Virginia began their outing with an impressive performance by 19-year-old RHP Noe Tribio who pitched five scoreless innings with seven strike outs, the first 3 2/3 innings of which were thrown without a hit.

"The fastball and breaking ball were working off one another really well," said Saylor. "He was able to feather in his changeup. He was able to stay down in the zone a little bit and that really allowed him to utilize all three of his weapons."

After five scoreless innings, the Crosscutters broke through in the sixth with an RBI sacrifice bunt and a run-scoring double to lead the Black Bears 2-0. However, the West Virginia bullpen halted the Williamsport offense through a strong outing from RHP Garrett Leonard, who earned the victory with a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to keep his team in the game.

The Black Bears clawed their way back in the ninth inning with a leadoff double by SS Jared Triolo. Triolo was then driven in by CF Matt Gorski who hit an RBI single to cut the lead 2-1. A single by Brett Kinneman put runners on first and second with nobody out.

After striking out two batters, a clutch RBI single by C Ryan Haug tied the game 2-2 with runners on second and third. Patten then stepped to the plate and hit a rocket down the field. Though stopped by the short stop, Patten beat the throw to first and brought home Matthiessen in the process.

He was then mobbed by his teammates at first base and covered in a celebratory Gatorade shower.

"It felt good, it felt really good to get a nice team win," said Patten. "It wouldn't have been possible without the great at-bats from the guys ahead of me to pick up a couple of runs and I was able to come through and come up with a big hit."

West Virginia gets ready to hit the road for a six-game road trip beginning tomorrow, July 1, that will take them through New York to play three games against the Auburn Doubledays, Monday through Wednesday. They then head back down to Williamsport to finish the trip with a three-game series against the Crosscutters, Thursday through Sunday.

The Black Bears return to the Mon County Ballpark to begin another six-game home stand on Sunday, July 7, against Auburn and the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

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New York-Penn League Stories from June 30, 2019


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