GRANVILLE, W. Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears opened their three-game series against the Aberdeen IronBirds with a 6-2 win on Friday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark. After the IronBirds jumped out to an early lead, the Bears’ pitchers held Aberdeen to three hits through the final five innings.
Starting for the Bears, newly acquired pitcher Reilly Shafer set the tone by striking out the side in the first. Aberdeen got on the board in the second with an RBI single from Brylan West, but Shafer fanned his fourth IronBird to end the inning.
West Virginia answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back singles from Jackson Trout and Owen Petrich and the walk of Tyvon Moore loaded the bases for the Bears. Drawing a walk, Elijah Cook took first, sending Jackson Trout across the plate. Another 4-0 walk put Cayden Gaskin on base and scored Petrich. After Blake Wilson struck out swinging, a Ben Barrett ground out coupled with an Aberdeen throwing error plated Moore and Cook, giving West Virginia a 4-1 lead.
Shafer and the Black Bears’ defense made quick work of the IronBirds in the top of the third, catching Jacoby Radcliffe stealing, and ending the inning on a flyout. In the home half, the Bears added a run when Moore lined a single to left field to score Trout. After a pitching change brought Ethan Paulson into the game, Moore stole second before advancing home on a throwing error to extend the West Virginia lead to five.
The IronBirds dove back in with a Luis De La Cruz solo home run in the fourth, but they could not overcome the strength of the Bears’ bullpen. Reliever Andrew Luczak took the mound for Shafer in the sixth, slamming the door shut on any rally attempts with four shutout innings.
Giving up just two runs on nine hits while striking out seven, Reilly Shafer made an immediate impact in his Black Bears debut. Shafer picked up the win with his 5.0 innings of work, while Andrew Luczak got his third save of the season with four scoreless innings. Luczak allowed two hits while striking out three IronBirds through the final frames, retiring the side in order in two of four innings.
Jackson Trout led West Virginia offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Tyvon Moore also had a strong night, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI, two runs and a walk. Centerfielder Elijah Cook went 1-for-3 with an RBI, one run and a walk.
The Black Bears return to Kendrick Family Ballpark for game two of the three-game series against the IronBirds on Saturday night. Game promotions include Women in Sports Night presented by Screech Owl Brewing and the debut of the Pepperoni and Cheese Patty Bobblehead by Chico Bakery. First pitch for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
