GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The West Virginia Black Bears ended the Camo Classic with a 7-2 loss to the State College Spikes on Tuesday evening. Held to five hits, the Black Bears did not plate a run until the final inning and could not claw their way out of the five-run hole.
The Spikes took control of the game early with two runs scored in the first frame. Black Bears starting pitcher Malik Abdul struggled to locate the strike zone against the heart of the order, walking in the Spikes’ first run. Nyan Hayes’ single to left field scored Camden Ross before the Bears’ defense ended the inning with a throw to first baseman Ben Barrett.
Abdul regained his composure to retire the side in order in the subsequent two innings, but two consecutive walks in the fourth ended his night and sent in Tom Chmielewski after 3.1 innings pitched. With two Spikes in scoring position, the walk of Jacoby Long juiced the bases for Blake Bradford. On the first offering from Chmielewski, Bradford homered for a grand slam.
State College added a run in the sixth as Bradford continued his hot streak with a triple that scored Long for a 7-0 lead.
After eight scoreless innings, West Virginia finally hopped on the board in the ninth after a Kevin Jones double plated Alec DeMartino. Spikes’ reliever Josh Beck walked Barrett to load the bases before he allowed the Bears another run with the walk of designated hitter Zack Thompson. Unwilling to risk their lead with the bases still juiced, State College sent in Patrick Morris, who recorded the final out with a ground ball fielded at second.
Kevin Jones led the West Virginia offense with three hits in five appearances and one RBI. The Black Bears continued to struggle plating runs, finishing 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 12 Bears left on base.
West Virginia will take a much needed off day before traveling to Trenton to take on the Thunder for the final road series over the weekend. The Bears return to Kendrick Family Ballpark to play host to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for the final series of the season, August 30 through September 1.
