TRENTON, N.J. – The West Virginia Black Bears swept the series against the Trenton Thunder with a 4-2 victory Sunday night at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. The Bears’ pitching staff dominated on the mound, striking out 15 batters while allowing just four hits as West Virginia built an early lead and held off a later Thunder rally.
West Virginia struck first in the opening inning. Kevin Jones singled on a line drive before advancing to second on a fielding error. Ben Barrett’s RBI single, followed by another Trenton fielding error, scored Jones to give the Bears an early one-run advantage.
After scoreless second and third innings, the Bears added to their lead in the fourth. Barrett led off with a line-drive single to center. After Zack Thompson’s fly out, singles from Ian Collier and Alec DeMartino brought Barrett home. Collier then scored on a fielding error to put the Bears ahead 3-0.
West Virginia added another run in the sixth inning when Collier launched his fourth home run of the season.
Trenton got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Lead-off hitter AJ Swader doubled before advancing to third on William Lybrook’s groundout. Bryson Trammell followed with a double to score Swader and cut the deficit to 4-1.
The Thunder threatened in the ninth, scoring another run before Black Bears reliever Dawson Hall recorded the final out to secure the 4-2 victory.
West Virginia’s pitching staff held Trenton to four hits while recording 15 strikeouts. Starting pitcher Hunter Holzemer earned the win after giving up just one run on three hits while striking out 10 across six innings. Aydan Decker-Petty threw one scoreless inning with one strikeout, while Dawson Hall recorded his third save of the season, allowing one run on one hit and striking out four across the final two innings.
Ian Collier led the Bears offensively, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and another run scored. Ben Barrett went 2-for-4 on the night with a run scored, while Kevin Jones went 1-for-3 with a walk and one run.
The Black Bears return home to Kendrick Family Ballpark for a six-game home stand beginning August 11. First pitch for Tuesday’s game against the State College Spikes is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
