NUTTER FORT, W.Va. — In a battle with four lead changes and less than 20 hits between both teams, No. 1 Morgantown Post 2 fell to No. 2 Bridgeport Post 68 in the last inning to land in the loser’s bracket.
Post 2 took the early lead, starting out with two runs through the first two innings. Devon Neal sent a fly ball to center field in the first inning, allowing Quintin Smith to score while Bridgeport focused on tagging out Colton Matthews at third.
After their second defensive 1-2-3, Morgantown returned to the plate for Smith to single in Matt Renner on a two-out count.
Bridgeport responded in the third with three quick runs. Neal’s error at third allowed Mark Lavezza to steal home before Garrett Collins singled in Max Harbert. With two outs, Trey Pancake grounded a pitch to Neal at third base, bringing home Collins from the corner.
Post 68 padded their lead with one more run in the fourth inning off of a line drive by Harbert in center field.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Morgantown held off Bridgeport in the top of the sixth while delivering a three run tirade in their half at bat. Matt Renner knocked a pitch into left field to run in Clay Maholic, and Smith’s two-run double three bats later gave Post 2 the lead once more.
With a trip to the loser’s bracket on the line, Bridgeport picked up four runs in crunch time to seal a lead that Morgantown would chase but ultimately fall short of.
Pancake stepped up with one out on the board, flipping a double into a two-RBI play. Morgantown caught Nate Cole on a sprint to first base, but even with two outs Vincent Turner sent a drive screaming into center field to push the lead to 7-5, and Lavezza ended the scoring drive with a double of his own, rounding in Turner.
Morgantown picked up two runs in the final half, and with a chance to get into position to tie, they would face a Bridgeport defense baring its teeth ready to sink into a pickle. Leading 8-7 and with two outs after Maholic’s sac fly in center field, Bridgeport caught a runner between second and third to end the thriller and advance with a safety net.
Morgantown will square off with No. 3 Fairmont Saturday at 4 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner will advance to face Bridgeport with a chance at redemption at 7 p.m.
