SCRAPPERS SUFFER SECOND STRAIGHT LOSS
By Ty Bartell
NILES OH- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the West Virginia Black Bears, losing in sudden death rules with the final score being 8-8.
Mahoning Valley started Jaden Agassi on the mound, while West Virginia countered with Ryan Spalliero. The Black Bears quickly took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly by Roman Kuntz, plating Ryley Preece.
In the bottom of the second, the Scrappers responded with RBI singles from John Schroeder and Jordan Donahue, taking a 2-1 edge. However, the Black Bears surged ahead in the top of the third, scoring three runs on a game-tying RBI single by Jack O’Dowd and a two-RBI base hit by Jeff Liqouri, giving West Virginia a 4-2 lead.
Mahoning Valley answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Tripp Clark hit a game-tying two-RBI triple, his first MLB Draft League hit, followed by Schroeder’s second RBI single and another two-RBI hit from Donahue, putting the Scrappers up 7-4 after three innings.
Beau Ankeney extended the lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth with a solo blast to left-center. However, West Virginia fought back. Kuntz drove in two more runs with a base hit in the top of the sixth, cutting the lead to 8-6.
In the top of the eighth, West Virginia closed the gap further. Brody Black reached base after a strikeout on a wild pitch by Scrappers pitcher Darrell Johnson Jr. Three more wild pitches allowed Black to score, making it 8-7 through eight innings.
Mauricio Millan tied the game in the top of the ninth with a leadoff home run to left field. With the score knotted at 8-8 after nine innings, the game went to sudden death. Millan delivered again, slipping a single past a diving Max Johnson at shortstop to win the game for the Black Bears.
Both Mahoning Valley (8-5) and West Virginia (7-7) will hit the road. The Black Bears will return home to host the Trenton Thunder (5-8), while the Scrappers head to Williamsport for a pivotal four-game series against the Crosscutters (8-5) on Thursday, with both teams tied for first place.
