GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears lost the second game of the three-game series against the Aberdeen IronBirds, 10-1, on Saturday evening at Kendrick Family Ballpark. In a stark contrast to Friday night’s contest, the Bears struggled to find a hit and could not break through the IronBirds’ ironclad defense.
West Virginia started the game strong with pitcher and designated hitter, Ben Barrett on the mound. Barrett closed the first frame catching a line drive smacked back to the bump and followed with two scoreless innings to keep the game tied at zero.
After threatening in the second and third, Aberdeen exploded with five runs in the fourth inning. Patrick McCullough moved into scoring position after reaching on a force out and stealing second, before the walk of Randy Flores put two on base. A moment of hesitation from second baseman Blake Wilson allowed Jacoby Radcliffe to reach first, loading the bases. Jevin Relaford’s RBI single scored McCullough and Flores for the first runs of the game, prompting Manager Tim Garland to make a call to the bullpen. Reliever Aydan Decker-Petty entered with one out and two on board. Isaiah Parido extended the lead with a three-run home run on the second offering from Decker-Petty, giving the IronBirds a 5-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
West Virginia got one back in the home half with a one-out homer from Kevin Jones, but the Bears failed to plate a run the remainder of the game.
Aberdeen tallied one in the sixth on a sacrifice fly that scored Max Galvin before pulling the game out of reach in the seventh by scoring four before the stretch. Parido continued his hot streak with an RBI single that brought in Radcliffe for a six-run lead. Another pitching change ensued with Carson Gipson taking the mound for Bears’ reliever Tom Chmielewski after 1.2 innings of work. With two runners in scoring position, a fielding error at third brought both Relaford and Parido home. Dylan Winebrenner plated Galvin with a bloop single to center field to put the IronBirds ahead 10-1.
Reece Clapp steadied the defense, holding Aberdeen at bay through the final two innings. But the Black Bears’ bats could not find a spark and ended the game with a strikeout.
For the first time since July, West Virginia struggled at the plate, unable to make solid contact and striking out seven times. The Bears finished the night with only one hit, Kevin Jones’ home run in the fourth, and were retired in order in seven innings. Defensively, the Black Bears allowed 10 runs on 15 hits, with Ben Barrett (1-1) recording his first loss of the season.
West Virginia looks to bounce back and take the series on Sunday afternoon for the final game against Aberdeen. Sunday’s “Family Fun Day” includes a pre-game team meet and greet from 11:15 a.m. to gates open at Gate C, and post-game on-field activities with kids running the bases and inflatable bounce houses, presented by Bounce ‘N More. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 1:00 p.m.
