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 West Virginia Black Bears

West Virginia Wins the Game and the Series against Trenton Thunder

June 17, 2021 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W. Va. - The West Virginia Black Bears came out on top in Thursday night's rubber match to take the series against the Trenton Thunder at Monongalia County Ballpark. With the Black Bears 7-3 win, they tie for first place in the MLB Draft League with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

After Trenton scored a run in the top of the first, West Virginia took no time to respond in the bottom of the inning. A single from 1B Tucker Mitchell and a walk of 2B Freylin Minyety put the Black Bears in scoring position. A sacrifice fly-out the following play would plate Mitchell and tie the game 1-1.

Trenton scored another run in the second inning putting them up 2-1, but a pitching change in the third put P Peyton Alford on the mound for the Black Bears. In just three innings, Alford tied his season-high of five strikeouts and held Trenton to one hit.

The second and third innings had Black Bears down 2-1 with one hit. A push of momentum came in the fourth inning as two singles from LF Grant Hussey and 3B Jake Reinhardt put the Black Bears in scoring position. Then, Trenton's pitcher allowed two walks with bases loaded. With the walks, the Black Bears tied the game 2-2, and Tucker Mitchell picked up his tenth RBI of the season. A fielder's choice would give West Virginia the last out of the inning.

The Black Bears defense had no trouble shutting down the Thunder's defense in the fifth and sixth innings. A walk and three singles in the sixth plated RF Kevin Dowdell and SS Eli Hammill to bring the score to 4-2.

Trenton would eventually score a run in the seventh inning off an error from the Black Bears defense, but Trenton was no match for the Black Bears for the rest of the night. The Black Bears added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning, putting them up 6-3.

To cap off the night, C Max Wright plated a speedy Freylin Minyety on a sacrifice fly after stealing second and third bases. P Madison Jeffrey would shut down the Thunder in the top of the ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Despite a slow start for the Black Bears, the team had one of their best overall performances of the season. Grant Hussey, Eli Hammill, Kaeber Rog powered the West Virginia offense through eight innings, accounting for a combined 9 hits, 3 RBI, and 5 runs. The newly added Bravo would take the win on the mound with three strikeouts in three innings pitched. The New Mexico native allowed only three hits in his debut and ended his first appearance in a Black Bears uniform with a win.

The Black Bears head on the road to Niles, Ohio for a three-game series with Mahoning Valley. Action will return to Monongalia County Ballpark on June 22 against the Frederick Keys. Tuesday night is College Day, so come wearing your favorite school's colors. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. For more information, visit www.WestVirginiaBlackBears.com.


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