WILLIAMSPORT. Pa. - West Virginia snapped the Crosscutters five-game win streak with a 6-4 final on Thursday night at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Kade Grundy made his Journey Bank Ballpark debut, allowing one run over five innings, before the Black Bears offense got to him in the sixth.
Grundy, who had scattered two hits through five innings, opened up the 6th inning seeing three of the four batters he faced find their way aboard, with all three scoring to give the Black Bears their first lead of the night.
The right-hander from Georgia Tech was saddled with the loss, his first decision in two outing since joining the Crosscutters in the second half.
The Williamsport offense gave Grundy some early support, utilizing a Jackson Mayo double in the bottom of the 1st to set up an RBI single from Matt Flaherty to give the Crosscutters a 1-0 lead.
The Cutters were able to retake the lead in the 4th inning, using a Flaherty lead off double to set up a Michael Zarrillo sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
Williamsport attempted the late rally, using three-straight singles to open the bottom of the 8th. Max Mandler and Marcus Brodil each recorded n RBI in the inning, bringing the deficit within two at 6-4.
Vantrel Reed drew a 9th inning, pinch-hit, walk and used a stolen base and error to get to 3rd base with one out. Unfortunately, the Cutters would see their next two batters retired to end the game and their win streak.
With the loss, the Cutters fall a full game behind the Black Bears in the 2nd half standings.
Williamsport will attempt to win the series and pull back into a first-place tie with West Virginia on Friday night. First pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Cutters Carvings: Jackson Mayo raised his batting average to .391 with a 2-4 performance, collecting his 11th double of the season… Max Mandler added to his league-leading batting average, now at .375, with a 2-4 outing… The loss drops the Cutters to 26-26 overall this season…
