Aberdeen, Md. - One day after having their eight-game winning streak snapped by the IronBirds, the Williamsport Crosscutters responded in a big way with a 14-6 victory over Aberdeen to take the series two games to one.
Kyle Schupmann got the offense going right from the start, working a lead-off walk and stealing second, his 12th stolen base of the season. Schupmann then scored on a Chris Stanfield single. Stanfield would follow up by stealing second as well before scoring on a Ben Tryon single. Tyron also advanced first to third thanks to an IronBirds throwing error.
Not satisfied there, Tryon would score on a single by Brodey Acres before Acres would steal second as well, the third stolen base in just the first half-inning of play. That stolen base would not be necessary as Amari Allen would launch a 418’ home run, his first of the season, to push the early Cutters lead to 5-0 in the Middle of the First.
Aberdeen would respond with three runs of their own, trimming the Williamsport lead to 5-3 after one inning of play.
Picking back up in the second, Kyle Shupmann reached for the second straight time, this time with a ground-rule double. He wouldn’t be at second long as Maddix Dalena drove a 335’ home run to left to push the lead to 7-3. For Dalena, it was his third home run of the season and for the Cutters, the second home run of the game.
Two batters later and with two outs, Brodey Acres would record his first triple of the season and quickly scored on an Amari Allen single to make it 8-3 in favor of Williamsport after an inning and a half of play.
The IronBirds offense would respond with a crooked number of their own in the bottom of the frame, plating three runs to close the Williamsport lead down to two runs at 8-6 after two innings.
The Cutters would add yet another run in the third, this time using back-to-back doubles from Geroge Malone, his second of the season, and Kyle Schupmann, his third of the season to extend the lead back to three at 9-6 in the middle of the third.
Both offenses went quiet on the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when the Cutters posted a crooked number once again. Thanks to IronBirds pitching miscues, Maddix Dalena (hit by pitch) and Ben Tryon (walk) stood on first and second for Brodey Acres. Acres would not leave them on base long as he added the third home run of the ballgame for Williamsport, a 420’ foot drive to center field. For Acres, it was his first home run of the season for the Cutters and would push the lead to 12-6 in the middle of the sixth.
After scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth, Williamsport would tack on two more insurance runs in the ninth. The Cutters again capitalized on Aberdeen pitching struggles as Chance Jennings and Kelly Robertson would work back-to-back walks to start the frame and both would move up 90 feet thanks to a sacrifice bunt by George Malone. Both would be driven in by Addison Smith, who entered as a defensive sub for Kyle Schupmann, to bring Williamsport to the final score of 14-6.
On the mound, it was a rough day for Chris Guillory as he surrendered six runs, five earned, on four hits, four walks, and two strikeouts in a two-inning start.
Brendan Sweeney was the first to enter in relief and earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season after three innings of one hit baseball with six strikeouts.
Joseph Webb went the next three innings and mimicked Sweeney, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts to earn his first hold of the season.
Dallis Moran closed out the game, retiring the side in order in a non-save situation.
Williamsport will now enjoy the league-wide off-day on Monday before opening a six-game homestand, starting off with a three-game series against the rival State College Spikes on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Cutters Carvings - Williamsport recorded five stolen bases today, bringing the season total to 74... The Cutters offense showed firepower with runners in scoring position, going 9-for-16 in the victory... At the time of writing, Williamsport has closed the gap to Trenton in the MLB Draft League standings to 1.5 games. Trenton and State College face in their series finale at Medlar Field on Sunday night...
