Morgantown, WV — Greg Pickett ‘s 1st inning two-run home run helped pace the Crosscutters offensive attack in their 8-3 win over West Virginia.
The Williamsport Crosscutters did not waste anytime getting on the board as they started their final road trip of 2017, plating three runs in the top of the 1st inning.
Nick Maton led off the ball game with a broken bat single to left-center that saw the barrel of his bat helicopter down the 1st base line to give the Cutters a quick base runner against West Virginia starter Sergio Cubilete.
Josh Stephen stung a line drive to the shortstop Tristan Gray, who tried to double up Maton at 1st base, but Gray’s throw hit Maton’s foot and caromed into the BlackBears dug out, allowing Maton to advance to 3rd base.
Against a drawn in infield, Yahir Gurrola grounded to the 2nd basemen Kevin Newman, who caught Maton off the bag at 3rd base. Newman’s throw to 3rd was low and skipped away from Robbie Glendinning, allowing Maton to race home to give the Cutters a 1-0 lead on the second error of the inning.
Greg Pickett stepped in, and drilled a two-strike Cubilete offering over the 375′ marker in right-center to score Gurrola and give the Cutters a 3-0 lead. The home run was the 6th of the season for Pickett, who upped his RBI total to 22 with the blast.
Malvin Matos doubled to left but was left at 2nd base, ending the Crosscutters 1st inning.
Nerluis Martinez opened up the 2nd inning with a double to down the right field line, but the Crosscutters were only able to move Martinez to 3rd base in the top of the 2nd inning.
Yahir Gurrola led off the top of the 3rd inning with a base hit to right-center, giving the Cutters a lead off hit for the 3rd straight inning.
Malvin Matos ripped a two-out double down the left field line, scoring Gurrola to give the Crosscutters a 4-0 advantage. It was the 18th RBI of the season for Matos and his 11th double of the season.
Andrew Brown was strong in his start, retiring the seven batters that he faced before walking two batters in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Brown was able to work around the walks, to keep the BlackBears off the scoreboard.
West Virginia broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th inning, getting a RBI single from Julio de la Cruz that scored Lucas Tancas to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Jose Barraza followed with a RBI double that plated Bligh Madris, cutting the Crosscutters lead in half at 4-2, before Brown could get the final out of the inning and end the BlackBears threat.
Williamsport’s bats backed Brown, getting the runs back and then some in the top of the 6th inning against BlackBears reliever Nicholas Economos.
Nerluis Martinez collected his 2nd double of the game, to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Jesus Azuaje followed with a RBI single to right field, chasing home Martinez to up the Cutters advantage to 5-2 and gave Azuaje his 3rd RBI of the season.
After a Maton single and a Stephen pop out, the Cutters had runners on the corners with two outs in the frame for Gurrola, who doubled to left-center to score Azuaje from 3rd and gave the Cutters a 6-2 lead. It was Gurrola’s 8th RBI of the season.
With Maton at 3rd base, Economos had a pitch get away, allowing Maton to score to give Williamsport a 7-2 lead, capping the Crosscutters scoring in the 6th.
Andrew Brown started the 6th inning, but was relieved with runners on 1st and 2nd with one out by Damon Jones.
Jones walked the first batter faced, loading the bases. Jones then plunked Barazza to plate Tancas and cut the deficit to 7-3 and keep the bases loaded.
Jones answered by striking out the next two batters to get out of the 6th inning and the West Virginia threat.
Brown officially ended his night having allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks, while striking out five. With the win, Brown improved to 4-4 on the season, in what is most likely his final outing.
Brian Mims got the run back with a RBI double to left-center, scoring Jake Scheiner in the top of the 7th inning, giving Williamsport a 8-3 lead. The RBI was the 4th of the season for Mims.
Damon Jones finished the outing, tossing 2.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out six BlackBears batters.
Despite a double by Yahir Gurrola in the 8th inning, the Crosscutters would not threaten the rest of the way.
Randy Alcantara worked a scoreless 9th inning, allowing a hit and picking up a strikeout as he was able to close the door on the BlackBears efforts.
The Crosscutters continue their three-game series against the BlackBears tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. At Monogalia County Ballpark.
Cutter Carvings – The Crosscutters finished the night with seven doubles, giving them 122 on the season, which was tied for the most in the New York-Penn League when the game ended… It was the first time this season that the Crosscutters had three players finish with two double each… The Crosscutters pounded out 15 hits in the win… Nick Maton, Yahir Gurrola, Greg Pickett, Malvin Matos and Nerluis Martinez all collected multi-hit games… Josh Stephen was the only Crosscutter not to record a base hit…
