Morgantown, WV - After building a 5-2 lead that lasted into the middle of the seventh inning, the Williamsport Crosscutters surrendered four runs in two innings, falling to the West Virginia Black Bears 6-5 on Thursday Night.
After West Virginia took an early 1-0 lead, Williamsport responded in the fourth as Josh Lopez hit a sac fly to center to score Mitch McCabe to tie the game. Later in the inning, Porter Brown added another sac fly to plate Kyson Donahue to give the Cutters a 2-1 lead.
Williamsport returned to the scoreboard in the sixth as a throwing error by Black Bears pitcher Noah Manning allowed Porter Brown to score. During the next at-bat, Levi Perrell hit a line drive single to right, scoring Cory Taylor and extending the Cutters lead to 4-1.
Williamsport would give up a run in the sixth but Josh Lopez would respond in the seventh with a 404 foot home run to left, restoring the Cutters lead to four runs at 5-2.
The Cutters offense would be held off the scoreboard the rest of the way while the bullpen would surrender four runs over the final two innings, giving West Virginia a 6-5 victory.
Tyler Valedez got the start on the hill and went four innings, allowing one run of five hits.
Zachary Murray, returning to the bullpen, surrendered three runs on five hits in two innings of work.
The returning Brett Thomas worked an inning, allowing one run on three hits.
Parker Kruglewicz suffered the loss on the mound for Williamsport, allowing the game-winning 434 foot home run to the Black Bears’ Trace Willhoite. Kruglewicz falls to 2-2 on the season after one inning of relief tonight.
Williamsport and West Virginia wrap up this two-game series Friday evening at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and live coverage is available at Crosscutters.com and on the MLB.tv App.
Cutters Carvings - Williamsport has now lost two straight games since their walk-off win on Monday against Trenton...Levi Perrell, Kyson Donahue, and Cory Taylor recorded multi-hit nights...Josh Lopez was the only Williamsport batter to drive in multiple runs...
