Almost Enough: Power rally not enough

(Charleston, WV- May 22, 2014)-  The West Virginia fell to the Lakewood BlueClaws on Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park, 10-9. The 'Claws raced out to a 9-0 lead two innings into the game and West Virginia fought all the way back to cut the lead to one in the ninth, but the Power would fall short.

Lakewood plated six runs in the first inning behind five hits allowed by Power starter Cody Dickson highlighted by a two-run blast off the bat of Andrew Pullin. The BlueClaws added three more in the second behind a two-run home run from Samuel Hiciano.

The Power, however, answered in the second with a pair started by a Justin Maffei RBI base knock. In the third, West Virginia added two more with a two-run long ball from Edwin Espinal. Espinal doubled home a run in the Power's third straight two-run frame in the fourth.

The Power tacked three runs in the ninth to pull the game within a run on four straight walks followed by an RBI single from Elvis Escobar, but that would be all.

Power starter Cody Dickson (2-6) was charged with the loss, while Lakewood reliever Yacksel Rios (1-0) earned the win and Cody Forsythe (7) tallied the save. Edwin Espinal posted a 2-for-4 day with a home run and three runs batted in during his return to the lineup and Reese McGuire extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double. Wyatt Mathisen also tallied a 2-for-3 performance.

West Virginia hosts the Lakewood BlueClaws on Friday, May 23, at Appalachian Power Park. Justin Topa will take the hill for the Power against the BlueClaws Alejandro Arteaga. For tickets or more information, call 304-344-2287.