GRANVILLE, W.Va. - In the first sudden death ending at Monongalia County Ballpark this season, the West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Trenton Thunder to tie the weekend series at 1-1. Though the Black Bears were down the majority of the game, the team fought back with two big home runs from Devin Saltiban and RJ Johnson and the shutout performance from pitcher Carter Rees in the final frame and sudden death.
Starting pitcher and recent acquisition Carlson Reed got the Black Bears off to a great start as he retired the side with one strikeout in the top of the first. Reed gave up four hits and three earned in the top of the second, at one point loading the bases, giving the Thunder a 3-0 lead.
Tyson Heaton replaced Carlson Reed to start the third inning. He retired three of four batters, to hold Trenton’s three-run lead.
The Black Bears managed to get their first runs on the board in the bottom of the third with LF Devin Saltiban hitting a two-run home run to center field that scored CF Cade Verdusco to make the score 3-2.
Aric McAtee replaced Heaton at the top of the fourth. After giving up a homerun to Chase Engelhard, which extended the lead to 4-2, he retired the next three batters.
The Black Bears found a spark in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead from Trenton. Right fielder RJ Johnson hit a two-run home run before 2B Brody Fahr drove in Verdusco to make the score 5-4 in favor of the Black Bears.
McAtee continued his success as he retired the side to begin the fifth. He was replaced with Ryan Schiefer at the top of the sixth. Schiefer quickly got into a jam as the first two batters of the inning got to second and third. He managed to get out without giving up any runs as he retired the last three batters.
Dylan Eskew came in to pitch at the top of the sixth. The Thunder regained the lead, 7-5, as he gave up three runs off of four hits. Reliever Brady Choban struck out three and gave up no runs in the seventh.
Garrett French came into pitch at the bottom of the eighth for Trenton and got himself out of a major jam. He loaded the bases with a hit and two walks. He struck out the last three of four batters of the inning, giving up only one run, to keep the score 7-6 in favor of Trenton.
Carter Rees came in to close for the Black Bears, retiring the side in the top of the ninth. The Black Bears sent it to sudden death with Johnson hitting a single to send SS Tevin Tucker home, tying the game at seven.
Heading into the first sudden death matchup at home this season, the Black Bears opted to play defense. With the game knotted at seven, Black Bears’ pitcher Carter Rees retired the side, striking out two, to close out the game and tie the series at 1-1.
West Virginia’s offense was led by strong performances from Devin Saltiban, RJ Johnson and Tevin Tucker. Saltiban, a highly touted prospect, finished the game going two-for-four at the dish with two RBI and a home run that put the Bears on the board. Johnson also went two-for-four with two RBI and a homer in the fourth. Giving fans a taste of his Mountaineer days, shortstop Tevin Tucker had his best game in a Black Bears uniform as he notched one hit, one run and two RBI in Saturday’s contest.
With the win, West Virginia halts its two-game skid and stays at .500 on the season, 2.0 games back from first in the MLB Draft League. The Black Bears look to clinch the series with a win this afternoon at The Mon on Father’s Day. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
