TRENTON, N.J. – The West Virginia Black Bears fell to the Trenton Thunder, 9-1, in game one of the three-game series Tuesday night at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. After tying the game in the second inning, the Bears were unable to keep pace as the Thunder scored eight unanswered runs.
The Thunder struck first in the opening frame. After a leadoff triple from Cy Turner, AJ Swader drove him home with an RBI double.
West Virginia answered in the second inning. Lead-off hitter Alec DeMartino was struck by a pitch before stealing second base. After Ben Barrett flied out, Cole Kitchens singled to score DeMartino. The Bears’ defense held strong by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
After a scoreless third inning, the Thunder struck back in the fourth, scoring Jake Koonin and Ty Stecko to take a 3-1 lead.
Trenton extended its lead in the fifth when Louis Percival scored on Turner’s RBI double before Juju Stevens came home on a wild pitch by Black Bears reliever Carson Estridge, making it 5-1.
The Thunder added another in the sixth when Michael Whooley earned his second RBI of the night.
With the Black Bears’ offense continuing to struggle, Trenton pulled out of reach in the seventh. Stevens and Koonin brought in their second runs of the night before Julian Swift crossed the plate, extending the lead to 9-1.
Neither team scored over the final two innings as the Thunder secured the 9-1 victory, snapping the Black Bears’ three-game winning streak.
The Black Bears return to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for the second game of the three-game series Wednesday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
