Defensive Struggles Lead to Loss

Williamsport, P.A. – A season-high trio of errors mixed with a few missed opportunities on the offensive side lead to the Crosscutters 7-2 loss to the West Virginia Black Bears to open their three game series.

West Virginia took advantage of Crosscutters starter Will Stewart‘s command issues and a Cole Stobbe throwing error to get the games first run, as Raul Siri scored on the defensive miscue to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.

Another Crosscutters error lead to the 2nd and 3rd runs for West Virginia, as Jhailyn Ortiz misplayed a ball in the right-center gap that allowed Ryan Nagle to score from 1st base and Nick King to advance into 3rd base. On the very next pitch, King scored on a passed ball that popped off the mitt of catcher Gregori Rivero, giving West Virginia a 3-0 lead after the top of the 2nd.

Juan Luis started the Cutters comeback attempt by leading lacing a one-out double down the right field line, his 1st extra base hit of the season. With two outs and Luis still on 2nd, Josh Stephen blistered a Sergio Cubilete offering back through the box that chased home Luis, cutting the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the 3rd.

After a one-out single from Cole Stobbe, Gregori Rivero redeemed his earlier miscue with a RBI double down the right field line, scoring Stobbe from 1st base and bringing the Cutters within one at 3-2 after four innings of play.

Things came undone for the Cutters in the top of the 8th inning, after a Sandy Santos lead off single, Jose Barazza reached on a dropped flyball by Josh Stephen, which was followed by a walk of Huascar Fuentes to load the bases with no outs.

Matt Diorio cleared the bases, ripping a triple down the right field line, extending the Black Bears lead to 6-2. Ryan Nagle followed the Diorio triple with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Diorio from 3rd and giving the West Virginia a 7-2 lead against Cutters reliever Randy Alcantara.

Will Stewart battled his command, suffering a loss in his Crosscutters debut, after allowing three runs on four hits in four innings of work. Of the three runs, only one was earned. Stewart walked three and struck out one.

Jhon Nunez tossed three scoreless frames of relief after taking over for Stewart. In his three innings of work, Nunez allowed three base hits and a walk, while striking out two.

Randy Alcantara allowed four runs, three earned, on two hits and a walk over his two innings of work. Alcantara was able to bounce back in the 9th, tossing a clean final frame with a strikeout.

Williamsport continues their three-game series against the West Virginia Black Bears tomorrow night, as Julian Garcia is set to make his 2017 Crosscutters debut. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. At BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

Cutter Carvings – Williamsport has totaled 10 extra base hit of the season, as Juan Luis, Gregori Rivero and Greg Pickett each doubled… For the third straight game, the Cutters struck out 10 times, giving them 30 as a team through three games… Cole Stobbe has scored a run in every game this season… Williamsport falls to 10-9 all-time against West Virginia…