GRANVILLE– The West Virginia Black bears returned home for the first time in ten days and defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters 5-0 Tuesday evening at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
This game was the start of a six game homestand, West Virginia’s (14-24) first of the second half of the MLB Draft League season.
Black Bears pitcher Aric McAtee started off strong in the top of the first inning striking two players out and allowing zero runs. In the bottom of the first the Black Bears struggled, pitcher Shaun Gamelin for the Crosscutters came out strong and pitched three outs very quickly and allowed zero runs to be scored.
“Watching the guys be able to manufacture runs is huge,” manager David Carpenter said. “Especially games like this where it’s more of a professional style.”
In the bottom of the second inning, Jeff Liquori hit a double and led the Black Bears to the first run scored, coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by former WVU catcher Dayne Leonard.Trace Willhoite later scored on a wild pitch as WV went up 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, Liquori was hit and walked to first then Willhoite hit a double and brought Liquori to third. Leonard walked to load the bases with zero outs but Liquori was forced out at home later. Sean Stephens hit a sacrifice fly to score Willhoite but the crosscutters got a strikeout to end the inning without further damage
Williamsport’s first scoring threat came at the top of the fifth, they loaded the bases but WV right fielder Jeff Liquori threw a runner out at home and shortstop Chris Einemann made a diving stop to end the inning.
The Black Bears added on to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Jack O’Dowd’s double scored Kasten Furr, Trace Willhoite brought O’Dowd to score on an RBI single to make it 5-0.
”If we continue to do what we did (Tuesday) we will be okay, ” Carpenter said.
McAtee had a strong start throwing four scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out four.
“He was rusty but he is a season guy, he understands what he needs to do in difficult situations,”Carpenter said.
Sayer Diederick and Noah Manning came out of the WV bullpen and combined for four scoreless innings. Jackson Kirkpatrick came in to pitch the ninth inning and secured the win.
The WV Black bears will play Williamsports in game two of the series Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
