MORGANTOWN — In a game that saw 25 runs and 24 hits combined between both teams, Bridgeport outlasted Morgantown Post 2 (5-11) in a game where both teams saw at least three-run leads during the contest.
Morgantown were the team to come out hot in the contest. Starting pitcher Mayson Jack retired the first three Post 68 batters in the top of the first. Then Kason Nealy started the offensive half of the inning off for Post 2 with an opposite field, stand-up double on just the second pitch of his at-bat.
Nealy opened the scoring on a single from Zach Brennan that gave Morgantown the first lead for either team. Next up was the 5A OVAC player of the year, Aaron Forbes. The recent University High graduate blasted a high fly ball to dead center field that hit the top of the fence. Brennan scored all the way from first base to make the lead 2-0 for Post 2, as Forbes hustled around second and slid into third base for an RBI triple. His UHS teammate Cody Thomas would bring him in to score from third on a sacrifice, as Morgantown enjoyed a three-run first inning that propelled it to the early lead.
Bridgeport would gather itself though, cutting the lead to two runs when Morgantown catcher Caleb Cottle dropped a third-strike that allowed the batter to get to first safely. All while the runner on third scored. Three up and three down for Bridgeport pitcher Chris Harbort in the bottom of the second inning set up a strong Post 68 batting lineup to do some damage.
Damage may be a nice way of describing it as Bridgeport exploded for seven runs in the top of the third inning, six of which came with zero outs on the board. Post 68 lead 8-4 after just three innings. Morgantown added one run in the third on a wild pitch that scored Aaron Forbes.
Once again, Post 2’s momentum was dampened just as soon as it was gathered. After cutting the lead to 8-4, Post 68 came back with three runs of its own. This time on one swing of the bat that sent a ball to center field that took a nasty bounce sending the ball past Nealy, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 11-4 for Bridgeport after trailing 3-0 early on.
Down seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, Morgantown was desperate to find the offense that was present in the first inning. It came in the exact same way off of the bat of Nealy who scored Jett Walters. Two more runs came from the bat of Brennan on the very next pitch, cutting the lead to 11-7 in favor of Bridgeport.
After Forbes singled and stole second, Thomas drew a walk. Giving Tommy Montague two base runners. He doubled, scoring Forbes. Two more runs on top of that would make the lead just one run at 11-10 after four innings.
Montague then made his mark on the mound, sitting three straight batters down to open the fifth. Post 2 would also go scoreless.
Thomas then stepped up to the plate with no men on base. After two pitches taken outside of the zone, Thomas turned on a fastball that sailed over the left field fence, tying the game at 11 through six innings.
The comeback looked likely as Zach Brennan entered the game for Morgantown, trying to keep the game locked to give his team a chance to win it.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Post 68, putting Brennan and Post 2 in a no-out jam. A shallow fly ball dropped in front of Nealy that scored two runs for Bridgeport, making the game 13-11. Another run made the lead three (14-11) heading into the bottom of the seventh, Morgantown’s last hope for the game.
Despite two base runners, Post 2 was unable to complete the comeback and would fall to Bridgeport 14-11.
Morgantown will return home to Mylan Park on Friday as it hosts Uniontown, PA at 7 P.M.
Morgantown Post 2 (5-11)
Nealy 5 2 2 1 Brennan 4 2 2 3 Forbes 4 3 3 1 Thomas 3 2 2 2 Montague 4 0 2 1 Cottle 4 0 0 1 Walters 1 1 0 0 Colasante 4 1 1 0 Dorkins 4 0 0 0
Bridgeport Post 68
Lowe 5 2 2 1 Rohrig 4 2 0 0 Dixon 4 2 2 2 Harbort 4 1 2 3 #17 4 0 1 0 Mann 4 3 2 0 Ross 2 2 1 0 Curry 4 1 1 1 #22 3 1 1 1
