GRANVILLE, W.Va. - In front of a packed crowd on Star Wars Night at Monongalia County Ballpark, the West Virginia Black Bears shut out the Frederick Keys, 10-0, to take the series on Saturday evening.
The Bears defense started off strong in the top of the first with a double-play combined with a strikeout from MLB Draft League pitcher of the week and starter, Max Alba. The Black Bears carried their momentum to the bottom of the inning to take a quick 1-0 lead over the Keys after a triple from CF Caeden Trenkle scored 3B Sam Antonacci.
The second inning proved to be one of two huge innings for the Black Bears bats as they were able to get four across the plate for a comfortable five-run lead heading into the third.
It started when Marek Chlup grounded into a force out to take first base. Chlup, the Division II World Series champion, proceeded to steal second before crossing the plate on a single from C Mauricio Millan. A line drive to center field by SS Savier Pinales gave him his first RBI double of the season and scored LF Kyle Hess and Millan.
After an unsuccessful visit to the mound by the Keys’ pitching coach, Trenkle and Antonacci were hit by back-to-back pitches to load the bases. Blaze Brothers concluded the scoring in the second with a sacrifice fly that scored Pinales from third base to give the Bears a strong 5-0 lead.
The Keys put up a few attempts at crossing the plate, but West Virginia’s defense could not be broken. In the fourth, Pinales ended the inning with a quick cut-off throw to second base. Later in the fifth, Antonacci made the step-and-throw from third for a double-play to end the inning with two Keys stranded in scoring position.
The Black Bears had their second four-run inning in the bottom of the fifth thanks to some solid hitting from the middle of the lineup. Chlup smashed a double into center field to score 1B Ryan Hernandez, followed by a single from Millan that scored Chlup and Hunter May. Caeden Trenkle slapped an outfield single to right that scored Millan, and West Virginia ended the inning with a dominant 9-0 lead.
In an impressive offensive showing, the Black Bears offense scored 10 runs on 11 hits. Mauricio Millan shined under the lights at The Mon, as he went three-for-three at the plate.The Witchita State commit finished the game with two runs and a game-high three RBI.
Not to be outdone, the West Virginia bullpen combined for 12 strikeouts (Alba: 3, Cook: 3, Hansen: 2, Schomberg: 2, Green: 2) and zero earned runs, the second shut out of the season – both of which occurred against the Keys.
With the win, West Virginia takes the series over Frederick and now sits at 9-11 on the season. The Bears head to Williamsport on Tuesday, June 28 to take on the Crosscutters before traveling to State College for a three-game series against the Spikes beginning July 1. West Virginia returns to The Mon for the Independence Day celebration on July 4 with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
