GRANVILLE, W. Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears dropped the second game of the series to the State College Spikes, unable to overcome a six-run first inning on Wednesday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark. West Virginia chipped away at the deficit through the game, but the early advantage ultimately proved too much to erase.
State College wasted no time taking control in the opening frame. Nyan Hayes reached on a throwing error before Ryan Rivera singled to put runners on base. Camden Ross followed with a fly-ball single to score Hayes, and Rivera came home on CJ Richmond’s ground out. After Blake Bradford drew a walk to put runners on the corners, Justin Journette blasted a three-run home run to extend the Spikes’ lead. Jackson Rains and Jett Buck followed with back-to-back singles, with Buck’s base hit bringing home Rains to give State College a 6-0 lead after one inning.
West Virginia began clawing its way back in the third when Elijah Cook launched a 431-foot solo home run over the center field wall to put the Bears on the board. Alec DeMartino added another run the following inning, cutting the deficit to four heading into the fifth.
After two scoreless frames, the Bears made another push in the seventh. Cayden Gaskin singled before stealing second. Kevin Jones followed with a line-drive to left field, scoring Gaskin and cutting State College’s lead in half.
But the Bears were unable to push another run across in the final two innings, as the Spikes held on to secure the 6-3 victory and even the series.
Amassing nine hits on the night, West Virginia struggled to plate runs, going 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding seven on base. Kevin Jones and Zack Thompson tallied two hits each with Jones driving in one run in the seventh. Elijah Cook added one hit, one run, and one RBI in the third inning on his second home run of the season.
After the Spikes’ barrage in the first, the Black Bears’ bullpen held the visitors in check, allowing just four hits while striking out nine. Newcomer Malik Abdul worked 5.0 innings, providing much-needed relief through the seventh, while allowing just two hits and striking out six. Following Abdul, Reilly Shafer tossed an empty frame with two hits and one strikeout, and Andrew Luczak closed the game with a hitless, scoreless inning, fanning two.
The Black Bears return to Kendrick Family Ballpark for the rubber match on Thursday night. Game promotions include Thirsty Thursday and Third Wheel Thursday presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
