GRANVILLE, W.Va. – In a rain-shortened contest Saturday evening, the West Virginia Black Bears dropped their second game in a row to the Frederick Keys at Monongalia County Ballpark by a score of 7-2. With the loss, West Virginia has lost its first series since the end of June and the first of the season to the Keys.

Things got off to a rocky start for West Virginia and starting pitcher Rhian Mann as the Keys recorded four runs on four hits in the first frame. A double from SS Evan Berkey drove in CF Amir Wright for the first run of the inning, while a single off 1B Alex Baeza scored LF Hunter Jump and Berkey. After walking RF Matt Oldham, Mann gave up a single to DH Calvin Rucker to give the Keys a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

West Virginia was able to create some offensive momentum in the bottom of the first led by a triple from DH Ryan Hernandez, but the Bears were unable to score.

The Keys extended their lead in the top of the third as Rucker singled on a fly ball to center field to score Baeza for the second time in three innings.

West Virginia finally made some noise in the bottom of the third. Ruben Fontes put the Bears on the board with a single to left field that scored 2B Maddux Houghton. A few at-bats later, a shot to left field from LF Adan Fernandez drove in CF Turner Hill to cut the Keys lead to 5-2.

Frederick continued to pile on Mann in the fourth inning with two more runs. A single from 3B Jake Plastiak scored Wright from third. In the next at-bat, C Trevor Johnson scored Berkey on a sacrifice fly to center field to bring the lead back to five runs.

West Virginia managed to reach base in the bottom of the sixth. However, with SS Anthony Stehlin in scoring position, the game was called after 5.5 innings due to lightning and impending thunderstorms.  

The West Virginia Black Bears look to avoid their third loss in a row on Sunday afternoon at The Mon in the series finale against the Frederick Keys. First pitch for the game is set for 4:05 p.m.