NILES, OH – After a short rain delay at Eastwood Field, the West Virginia Black Bears lost the second game of the series to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 3-2 on Tuesday evening. Following a defensive showdown, the Scrappers walked it off on a bases-loaded walk to win the game.
After a scoreless opening frame for both teams, the Black Bears struck first with two runs in the top of the second. Trace Willhoite took his base on a full-count walk off starting pitcher Zach Norris. Continuing his hitting streak, Jeff Liquori singled on a line drive to center field before advancing to second on a ground out by designated hitter Dayne Leonard. With two players in scoring position, Willhoite scrambled home on a wild pitch. The next at-bat, Ryan Grabosch sent an RBI single to left field on Norris’s second offering to take a two-run lead.
Three clean innings followed as starter Brenton Thiels and the Bears’ defense held the Scrappers to two hits through the fifth. The home team threatened with runners in scoring position in three innings, but ultimately, left them stranded. Thiels retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, keeping the Black Bears ahead of the Scrappers 2-0.
Mahoning Valley responded with two runs in the sixth. A walk put left fielder Blake McRae on first to start the inning. McRae advanced on a passed ball off the glove of catcher Grabosch with Zach Ketterman up to bat. The Scrappers’ second baseman doubled deep to right field, scoring McRae to cut the lead to one. A single by Drew Holderbach brought in Ketterman for the second run with no outs on the board. A mound visit ensued, but Thiels remained to face the bottom of the order. The Black Bears’ defense turned three consecutive outs to end the inning, but not before the Scrappers knotted the game.
Scoring stalled after the sixth with the teams tied at two. Relieving Thiels after six innings of work, Jackson Kirkpatrick kept the Scrappers hitless in the seventh. Lefty Sayer Diederich followed suit with an empty frame in the eighth.
The Bears put up three scoreless innings with runners left on base each time. Chris Einemann picked up a hit in the top of the ninth, but West Virginia went down swinging to send Mahoning Valley back to the plate.
Leading off in the bottom of the inning, Matthew Rivera took a line drive out to center field for a base hit. T.J. McKenzie reached on a throwing error to first by Diederich, advancing pinch-runner Kota Suzuki to third. Diederich loaded the bases with an intentional walk of Jake Allgeyer to set up a force out at the plate. Working his way into a full count and after a mound visit by manager David Carpenter, Diederich walked in McRae for the walk-off run.
A slow night for the Bears’ bats, only Ryan Grabosch recorded an RBI in the game. Trace Willhoite (.421 BA) led West Virginia with two hits in three at-bats and one run. Starting pitcher Brenton Thiels made a splash in his debut, allowing just four hits and two runs in his six-inning appearance.
For the Scrappers, starter Zach Norris held the Black Bears to three hits and their only two runs of the game with six strikeouts.
One more game will decide the fate of the series as the Black Bears return to Eastwood Field to face the Scrappers in the rubber match on Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m. West Virginia returns to Kendrick Family Ballpark on Thursday evening for a two-game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters. First pitch for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
