Granville, W. Va. - Despite allowing three Black Bears runs in the first inning, the Williamsport Crosscutters would rally to take the opening game against West Virginia 4-3 on Tuesday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark at Monongalia County Baseball Complex.

West Virginia would strike early in front of their home crowd, scoring three runs, two earned, off the Cutters to lead 3-0 after one inning. As the game would play out, this would be the only time the Black Bears would find the scoreboard in the contest.

Williamsport would wait until the top of the third inning to respond as KJ White led things off with a single that went off the Black Bears pitcher and advanced to second on a throwing error. This would set things up for Kyle Schuppman, who used his only hit of the night, a single to left, to drive in White and cut the West Virginia lead to 3-1 in the middle of the third.

Things went quiet until the fifth, this time with Kelly Robertson leading things off with a single before stealing second and third, bringing his total stolen bases on the season to ten. Chris Stanfield would work a walk and steal second, his 15th of the year to put Cutters on second and third with two outs for Ben Tryon.

Tryon would power a fly ball to the center field wall for a double that scored both Robertson and Stanfield. Using heads-up running, Tryon would keep going after the ball was mishandled in center, beating the relay to score on the same play to make it 4-3 in favor of Williamsport.

As the game would shake out, that Ben Tryon run on the error would end up being the game winner as Williamsport defeated West Virginia 4-3.

Alex Walsh allowed three runs, two earned, in his start which forced him from the game after just two innings of work. Walsh walked four Black Bears and struck out two during the appearance.

Matthew Mariano earned the win, his first in a Cutters uniform, after three strong innings, allowing just one walk and three hits while striking out four.

Colton Kennedy earned a hold after working the next three innings, allowing just a single hit with two strikeouts.

Dallis Moran entered for the ninth and used a double-play after a walk to face the minimum to earn his fourth save of 2026.

Williamsport continues the final week of the first half on Wednesday as they wrap up this quick two-game series against the West Virginia Black Bears. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Kendrick Family Ballpark at Monongalia County Baseball Complex.

Cutters Carvings - Williamsport stole four bases in the victory, bringing their season total to 96... Ben Tryon's two RBI brings his season total to 25, the most by any Williamsport player in the first half of an MLB Draft League season... Williamsport designated hitter Chance Jennings was ejected from the ballgame at the end of the sixth inning for arguing a call at first base...