SCRAPPERS DROP SERIES OPENER TO WILLIAMSPORT

NILES, OH- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted the Williamsport Crosscutters in the series opener on Thursday night at Eastwood Field. The Scrappers had a sizeable lead late in the ballgame, but Williamsport rallied for 5 runs in the last 3 innings to take game 1 of the series.

The Scrappers came out swinging from the get-go, scoring 3 runs in the first inning on 5 hits. Williamsport scored 1 run in the second, but the Scrappers countered with an RBI single by Matt Archer to take a 4-1 lead. It was an offensive fourth inning for both teams, as Williamsport put up 3 runs in the top frame, before Scrappers third baseman Reed Chumley plated 2 on a line drive to left, padding the lead to 6-4 after the fourth inning.

The Crosscutters took their first lead of the ballgame in the seventh inning on a wild pitch to score 1 run, followed by a go-ahead 2 RBI single by lead-off hitter Matthew Etzel to take a 7-6 lead. The Crosscutters then added some insurance runs in the ninth inning on an unusual drop third strike that scored 2 runs on a throwing error by the catcher to first base. The Scrappers led off the ninth inning with a pinch hit home run by Bobby Sparling, but that was not enough as Williamsport beat Mahoning Valley 9-7 to win game 1. Game two of the series begins tonight at 7:05, you can listen to the game on YSNLive.com.