MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Post 2 baseball team got off to a slow start in Wednesday’s game against Elkins, which featured a two and a half hour rain delay, but eventually rallied to win 4-3 in extra innings.
Ethan Smith’s walk-off single in the 10th inning sealed the first round victory for Morgantown.
Elkins got to an early lead in the fourth inning and then added on to its lead in the top of the fifth and seven innings — leading 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the final inning.
“We fell behind early. They just kept hitting balls into the outfield,” Post 2 manager Tyler Barnette said after the game. “They didn’t hit anything hard on him. Just right place, right time.”
Barnette was ejected due to a pitch count misunderstanding in the sixth inning.
Post 2 managed to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The rally was mostly due to a sacrifice fly by Brent Robinson and a double by Colton Matthews.
“Our bats didn’t come out ready until the bottom of the seventh,” Barnette said.
After two and a half innings of extras, Smith’s single finally broke the tie and clinched a second round berth for Morgantown.
Reid Bailey got the start for Post 2 on the mound — pitching five innings and allowing two earned runs (the first earned runs he’s allowed all summer) off five hits and four walks, and had five strikeouts.
“Reid was great in this game. We couldn’t ask for anything more from him,” Barnette said. “He had a good start. He pitched great.”
Matt Renner relieved Bailey in the sixth inning, posting up a scoreless frame. Then Gavin Cottle pitched the rest of the way, securing the win in the process.
Cottle pitched four innings and allowed just one run off three hits and got three strikeouts.
Matthew Gainer started for Elkins and almost pitched a complete game — pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three earned runs off seven hits and four walks, and collected seven strikeouts.
“[He] threw a heck of a game. Couldn’t ask for [our guys to do] more against a college pitcher,” Barnette said.
Reed Schumacher relieved Gainer in the bottom of the seventh and pitched the rest of the game until allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth, which got him the loss.
