MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown Post 2 baseball team got back in the win column with a 3-2 win over Elkins Post 29 on a rainy Tuesday at Dale Miller Field.
Post 2 starting pitcher Hunter Dakan earned the victory, allowing four hits and two runs, one earned and one unearned. He also struck out six batters with zero walks.
“It’s rainy, it’s a mess, and you’re getting the best out of your opponent so it’s always good to get a win in those conditions,” Post 2 coach Andy Altemus said. “We got some of our guys back this week who were gone and they’ve come back strong and are going to help in a solid lineup.”
Post 2 got going early on offense and took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Elkins answered back when University High’s own Wenkai Campbell stole second and third before being brought home with a game-tying sacrifice fly.
The next few innings saw each pitcher, Dakan and Cameron Biller for Elkins, getting comfortable and gaining confidence.
Dakan struck out four straight batters between the bottom of the second and third innings, including the side in the third.
“It was tough battling the elements but you just have to deal with that stuff sometimes,” Dakan said. “I didn’t have my best stuff but being able to come out here and just throw strikes is about all you can ask for.”
His one earned run came on the sacrifice fly, the other was unearned after a ground ball slid past the glove of Gabe Templeton in center field, allowing Elkins catcher Lincoln Scott to touch all the bases and tie the game at two apiece.
A scoreless and rainy fifth inning seemed to be pointing toward extra innings, however, a single and a steal by first baseman Caleb Cottle gave Post 2 some life in the sixth. After a strikeout, right fielder Ethan Dorkins came to the plate and delivered a double to center field that brought Cottle around to score the go-ahead run, giving his team a 3-2 lead that wouldn’t change.
A game-ending 5-4-3 double play gave Post 2 a much-needed win over Elkins Post 29.
Post 2 will return to Dale Miller Field tonight at 7:00 p.m. against Buckhannon.
TWEET @ahhh_griff
Morgantown 3, Elkins 2
Elkins 010 100 0 – 2 4 1
Morgantown 101 001 X – 3 4 1
Morgantown – Thomas 2110, Bailey 2100, Templeton 2000, Cottle 3121, Walters 3000, Dorkins 2011, Smolkin 2000, Whanger 2000, Croyle 2000
2B: Dorkins
Elkins – Biller 3000, Gonzales 3020, Humphrey 3000, Scott 3120, Gonzales 2000, Wamsley 3001, Huffman 2000, Holland 2000, Haddix 1000
2B: Scott
WP: Dakan 6.0ip 4h 2r 0bb 6k
LP: Biller 5.0ip 2h 2r 4bb 6k
