GRANVILLE, W, Va. - After a week full of dominant performances, the Black Bears were unable to keep the momentum going in game two against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and suffered a 9-1 loss at Monongalia County Ballpark. Despite holding the Scrappers to one run through seven innings, Mahoning Valley plated eight runs in the eighth for the decisive win on Saturday evening.
The Black Bears had a promising start thanks to a home run in the first inning from RF Ruben Fontes to take an early lead. The Black Bear defense then put together two quick innings, retiring the side in the second and third to hold the Scrappers off the board.
Starting pitcher Patrick Miner gave a strong six-inning performance, throwing four strikeouts and giving up just five hits. Miner earned one run in the top of the fifth on an outfield single from LF Tyler Acosta that scored 3B Oscar Ponce to knot the game 1-1.
After holding the Scrappers to one run through seven innings, everything came crashing down for the Bears in the top of the eighth as Mahoning Valley scored eight runs to take the lead.
First baseman Gabe Gonzalez began the scoring sequence with a single to left field off reliever Tyler Johnson that scored 2B Will Prater. A two-run triple from C Alex Crump brought home SS Jeffrey Wehler and Gonzalez to put the Scrappers up 4-1. Acosta turned in his second RBI of the evening on a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Crump before Black Bears manager Jedd Gyorko called LHP Ian McMahon from the bullpen to relieve the struggling Johnson. With only one out on the board, an RBI double from RF Abimael Gonzalez scored Ponce. The next at-bat, CF Dominick Bucko scored DH Adam Fogel on a sac-fly to center field, while a wild pitch from McMahon advanced two runners into scoring position. Two more runs came in before McMahon pulled the Bears out of harm’s way with a strikeout to end the long inning.
In one of the most surprising turns of the season, INF Anthony Stehlin took to the mound in the top of the ninth. Stehlin, who made 14 appearances as a pitcher for Concord University this season, began the inning with a strikeout. Two more quick outs sent the Black Bears to the bottom of the inning for the first time this home stand. However, the Scrappers shut down any hopes of a comeback with three easy outs to end the game.
On a night with few offensive highlight, Ruben Fontes managed to record two of the only three hits for West Virginia. Fontes finished the game with two hits in four at-bats and the only run for the Bears with his solo shot to right field in the first frame.
The Black Bears are back at The Mon on Sunday afternoon for game three against the Scrappers. First pitch for the rubber match is set for 4:05 p.m.
