Morgantown, WV - Williamsport’s first road game of the second half did not go their way as the offense was shutout by the West Virginia Black Bears 5-0 on Tuesday night at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Levi Perrell tried to get the Cutters offense going right from the jump as he hit a leadoff single and stole second. Two batters later, Mark Shallenberger would reach as well via a hit by pitch, but both would be left stranded.
In the second, Joshua Lopez worked a one out walk but was retired as Cory Taylor grounded into a fielder's choice. Taylor did steal second, but was stuck at second as the inning ended.
Williamsport wouldn't find the bases again until the fourth, now trailing 2-0. Mark Shallenberger would single to leadoff the inning but would be caught stealing. Kyson Donahue would walk with two outs and moved to second on a Joshua Lopez single. Both were again left stranded.
The top of the fifth saw another leadoff baserunner as Michael Florides singled, followed by a Levi Perrell being hit by a pitch to reach safely. McGwire Holbrook singled on a line drive to right and Williamsport was aggressive to try and make something happen, sending Florides from third but he would be tug out at the plate, preventing Williamsport from finding the scoreboard once again.
In the top of the sixth, with the Black Bears in front 5-0, Cory Taylor would add another single to the hit column with two outs but was left stranded at first.
The seventh saw another single and a runner stranded, this time from the returning Porter Brown.
The eighth and ninth saw Williamsport go down in order as they fell to West Virginia by a final score of 5-0.
Shaun Gamelin got the start for Williamsport on the mound and suffered his first lost in 2 years of wearing a Cutters uniform after allowing five runs, all earned, on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts before being lifted with one away in the fifth inning.
Former starter turned reliever Zachary Murray was first out the bullpen and was able to stop the bleeding as he went 1.2 innings of no-hit pitching and striking out three. Murray did allow one Black Bears hitter to reach via a walk but left him stranded.
Conner Thurman closed out the final two innings for Williamsport and picked up right where Murray left off, allowing no Black Bears runner to reach while striking out three.
Williamsport and West Virginia will continue this three-game series at Wagener Field and Kendrick Family Ballpark on Wednesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with live coverage available at Crosscutters.com and on the MLB.tv App.
Cutters Carvings - Despite being shutout, Williamsport out-hit West Virginia 7-6...Williamsport went 1-9 with runners in scoring position...Williamsport left 10 runners stranded on base...
