GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears stormed back from a four-run deficit to defeat the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 7-5, on Saturday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The Bears’ six-run rally in the sixth propelled them ahead of the Scrappers for their second 7-5 victory in as many days, clinching their first home series of the second half.
Mirroring Friday’s contest, Mahoning Valley drew first blood, scoring a run in the opening frame. The Scrappers extended their lead to 3-0 in the third after capitalizing on a wild pitch and a single that scored Zion Williams.
West Virginia allowed another run in the fourth after loading the bases with walks, but the Bears ended the momentum with double play to close the top of the inning.
Though the Black Bears struggled at the plate through the first five innings, the offense came roaring back in the sixth with six runs. Benefiting from a fielding error, Zack Thompson scored the first Black Bears run. With runners on the corners, the walk of Jackson Trout loaded the bases. Another walk put Kevin Jones on first and plated Ben Barrett. Cole Kitchens followed with a two-run single that scored Alec DeMartino and Trout, knotting the game at four. A throwing error from third that soared past first base created enough time for Jouras to race to third, scoring Jones and Kitchens for a two-run lead.
Mahoning Valley answered in the seventh when Williams blasted a solo home run to trim the deficit to one, but West Virginia erased the run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from DeMartino.
Dawson Hall and Jake Kramer held the line for the Bears in the final two innings, securing the win and the series for the home team.
Cole Kitchens, Ben Barrett and Zack Thompson drove the Black Bears offense, accounting for seven of eight West Virginia hits, with Kitchens driving in two runs and scoring one. Catcher Thompson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Barrett recorded two hits in four at-bats with one run.
Reliever Hunter Holzemer got his first win of the season with a three-inning appearance, striking out four while allowing one walk and zero hits. Dawson Hall recorded four strikeouts, surrendering a solo home run in the seventh, but ultimately keeping the Bears ahead through his two innings on the mound.
With the win, the Black Bears clinch the series against the Scrappers and go for the sweep at home on Sunday afternoon during “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” at the Park, a Pokémon-theme night. Highlights of Sunday’s promotion include a Master Poké-Baseball giveaway to the first 500 fans, a “Find Pikachu” in-game promotion, and balloon twisting on the concourse by Simplicity’s Wonderful World. First pitch for the series finale is set for 5:00 p.m.
