FREDERICK, Md. - Williamsport’s offense started red-hot, scoring six runs over the first two innings, to defeat the Frederick Keys 7-3 on Friday night at Nymeo Park, evening the three-game series.

Vantrel Reed started off wearing a pitch to become the Cutters first baserunner of the night and moved first to third as Carlos Castillo grounded a ball back to Keys starting pitcher Brooks Ey, who threw it up the right field line. Castillo would immediatly steal second, his fourteenth steal of the season, and Max Mandler walked to load up the bases. This would be followed by Safea Villaruz-Mauai reaching on a RBI fielder's choice that scored Reed but retired Mandler at second. Williamsport would execute a double-steal as Villaruz-Mauai stole second and Carlos Castillo stole home to give Williamsport a 2-0 lead after a half-inning.

The Crosscutters offense would keep the hot start going in the second inning as TJ Racherbaumer walked and Marquis Jackson singled to start the inning. Vantrel Reed would pick up a bunt single and the second throwing error by pitcher Brooks Ey wouold allow Racherbaumer to score and move Jackson and Reed into scoring position. Carlos Castillo would single to score Jackson while Reed was put out on the play. Castillo would move first to third on a Max Mandler single with Mandler moving up to second on a throwing error by Keys right fielder Isaiah Greene, Frederick's third error of the game. Two batters later, Michael Zarrillo would drive in both Castillo and Mandler with a single to right field, giving Williamsport a 6-0 lead in the middle of the second.

The Cutters would find the scoreboard again in the fourth, once again using a Frederick error in the field as Carlos Castillo led off reaching on the error by third baseman Ethan Ott. Max Mandler singled to move Castillo to second and yet another Frederick error, this time by left fielder Jamal Ritter, would move him up to third before Michael Zarrillo singled and scored Castillo for his third RBI of the night to make it 7-0 and cap the Cutters scoring for the night.

Frederick would get two runs back in the bottom of the fifth on a 2 RBI double from Cam Hassert and their final run would come on a Jamal Ritter sacrifice fly in the seventh. All three Frederick runners that scored tonight reached via walks.

Kade Grundy got the start in his Crosscutters debut tonight and took a no-decision after a three-inning, one hit outing. Grundy also recorded four strikeouts.

Jed Boyle entered in relief of Grundy to go the next three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.

David White tossed a no-hit seventh but did allow a run after a walk, two wild pitches, and a sacrifice fly.

Holland Townes, making his second appearance in two days, would close things out on the hill for the Cutters over the final two innings, shutting out the Keys and allowing just one hit, walking two, and striking out three.

Williamsport and Frederick meet tomorrow in the series-deciding game tomorrow afternoon at Nymeo Field in Frederick, Maryland. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Cutters Carvings - Frederick committed five errors in tonight's game... Williamsport pitchers combined for fifteen strikeouts... Williamsport's offense struck out 10 times while only walking four times...