GRANVILLE, W. Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears opened their six-game homestand with a 12-3 win against the State College Spikes on Tuesday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark. West Virginia jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, scoring 12 runs on 16 hits to secure the decisive victory. Starting pitcher Tyler Kaltreider dominated the Spikes, allowing just one run on six hits through the first six innings.
West Virginia opened the scoring with an explosive second frame. Ian Collier picked up a single and Alec DeMartino drew a walk before a hard line-drive double from Cole Kitchens sent them home. After Tyvon Moore grounded out, Elijah Cook singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Cayden Gaskin scored Kitchens with a liner to center field. Kevin Jones followed with a two-out RBI single to score Cook and give the Bears an early four-run advantage.
Catcher Zack Thompson added another run in the third when he launched his fifth home run of the season 440 feet to put West Virginia ahead 5-0.
After a scoreless fourth inning, State College got on the board in the fifth with a run from Nyan Hayes.
But the Bears responded in the bottom of the inning with seven runs. Ben Barrett led off with a double before Thompson’s single sent him home. Collier drew a walk, and DeMartino followed with an RBI single that scored Thompson. After a Spikes pitching change, Kitchens recorded his second double of the night, bringing home Collier and DeMartino for an eight-run lead. Singles from Cook and Gaskin loaded the bases, and the walk of Barrett by Spikes’ reliever Josh Beck plated Kitchens. Thompson followed, delivering a two-out, two-RBI single that scored Cook and Gaskin to put the Bears ahead 12-1.
The Spikes added runs in the final frames as Ryan Rivera grounded out to score Hayes in the seventh and an RBI double brought Hayes home again in the ninth. But West Virginia could not be caught and a line drive fielded by Kitchens at third secured the 12-3 win.
Exploding for 12 runs on 16 hits, the Bears scored four runs in the second and seven in the fifth inning. Zack Thompson led the offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, including his solo shot in the third. Cole Kitchens also delivered, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Ian Collier, Alec DeMartino and Elijah Cook all scored two runs while Cayden Gaskin and Ben Barrett each plated one.
Tyler Kaltreider (3-1), who was named the MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Week, earned the win after allowing just one run on six hits while striking out eight across 6.0 innings. West Virginia’s bullpen held State College to two runs on three hits through the remaining three innings with Reece Clapp, Ryan Ure, and Lastres each recording one inning of work.
The Black Bears return to Kendrick Family Ballpark on Wednesday night for game two of the series presented by Mountain Tidy Cleaning Services. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
