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NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Williamsport Sweeps West Virginia on the Road

August 4, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, W. Va. - To open another three-game road series, the West Virginia Black Bears were defeated by the Williamsport Crosscutters 2-1.

Despite each team putting up seven hits, Thursday night's game was big for leadoff men. All three runs in the game were generated by the one spot in each team's batting order, all of which came via the long ball.

Things got started in the bottom of the first inning, as Williamsport LF Ben Aklinski opened up with a solo home run to take an early lead. Aklinski came back up in the third inning to hit another solo shot, putting the home team up 2-0

Outside of surrendering a pair of home runs, P Nicholas Economos pitched well in a spot-start for West Virginia. The righty allowed only four hits and struck out five batters in five innings while walking one other.

The Black Bears got a run back in the top of the sixth inning, as LF Daniel Amaral hit a solo homer of his own to cut the deficit to 2-1.

P Cam Alldred came in for West Virginia with another immaculate relief appearance. The lefty pitched three innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only three hits and striking out a batter to keep his team in the game.

Alldred's performance dropped his ERA to 1.29 on the season, as he's not allowed a run in his last sixteen innings of relief work.

Unfortunately, the Black Bears couldn't string anything together in the final three innings, picking up only one hit as West Virginia dropped game one on the road.

GAME TWO

In the first half on a Saturday doubleheader, the West Virginia Black Bears lost to the Williamsport Crosscutters 5-2.

Because of Friday's weather postponement, Williamsport and West Virginia played a pair of seven-inning games to complete the series.

The Black Bears jumped out to take the lead in the top of the first inning, as 3B Mike Gretler cracked an RBI single to bring the game's first run around to score.

The Crosscutters were quick to respond in the bottom half, striking with a pair of RBI singles to take an early 2-1 lead.

Then in the bottom of the fourth, Williamsport scored again on an RBI groundout, extending its lead to two runs.

West Virginia got one back in top of the fifth. With a runner on second, the speedy LF Daniel Amaral hit a triple into right field to bring the score to 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Crosscutters got a pair of insurance runs. A solo home run and an RBI double gave the home team a 5-2 cushion, needing three outs to lock up a game two win.

The Black Bears managed to get a baserunner on with one out, but Williamsport forced the visitors into a game-ending double play, taking the victory as the teams prepared for game three.

GAME THREE

In the series finale, the Williamsport Crosscutters completed the sweep, defeating the West Virginia Black Bears 1-0.

Game three featured a pitcher's duel between the Pinckney Division foes, as the teams combined for only seven hits in the contest.

West Virginia sent out P Francis Del Orbe for a spot-start, and the righty pitched admirably. Normally a reliever, the righty threw four innings and surrendered one run on two hits, striking out four batters while walking one.

His lone earned run came in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Williamsport mustered up a single with a runner in scoring position to take a 1-0 lead.

P Conner Loeprich also had a nice outing for the Black Bears. Coming out of the bullpen, the righty threw two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit to go with three strikeouts and a walk.

Despite a solid outing from the West Virginia pitching staff, the series finale wasn't kind to the visiting team's bats. The offense put together only four hits, as the visitors fell once again in game three.

After going 1-5 on this six-game road trip, the Black Bears return home for a three-game series with the Batavia Muckdogs. First pitch for Sunday's game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

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