Coppola's Three Hit Night Paces Cutters Offense
Aberdeen, MD - The Williamsport Crosscutters picked up their third consecutive win on Saturday night with a 5-1 win against the Aberdeen IronBirds at Ripken Stadium. The Cutters moved above .500 on the road this season, picking up their eighth win compared to seven losses. Tyler Gilbert bounced back from a rough outing his last time out going five innings and setting a new career high in strikeouts with six.
The Cutters plated the game's first run in the top of the third inning against Aberdeen starter Reid Love. Dylan Bosheers worked a four pitch walk to give Williamsport a lead off base runner and allow Zach Coppola to bring him in with an RBI single two batters later. The hit extended Coppola's hitting streak to eight games and that wouldn't be his only offense of the night.
Williamsport was able to focus on their offense all night long as Gilbert was strong on the mound silencing the IronBirds and their offense. Gilbert would allow just three hits on the night with two of them coming in the fourth inning. Gilbert would strand both runners as he would get two fly balls to end the inning and keep Aberdeen off of the scoreboard. Williamsport responded by putting together a two run fifth inning thanks to four hits from the bottom half of the lineup.
Austin Bossart extended his hit streak to nine games with a single to lead off the fifth inning. Carlos Duran would follow suit in his first game back into the Cutters lineup to put a pair of runners on base. With runners at second and third, Grenny Cumana delivered a single that would score one run to give the Cutters a 2-0 lead. Coppola would make it 3-0 with his second single and RBI of the night. Jesus Posso hit his second home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning to put the Cutters up 5-1. Aberdeen would score their only run in the seventh inning against Denton Keys. Keys worked two innings of relief allowing two hits and striking out two batters. The run would be un-earned as the runner for Aberdeen reached base on an error with two outs in the inning.
The Cutters would also get an inning of relief from Feliberto Sanchez and Rob Tasin, who worked the eighth and ninth innings respectively. Sanchez worked a clean inning striking out two batters, while Tasin struck out the games final batter to end the ball game. Williamsport pitching struck out 11 Aberdeen batters in the game without allowing a walk. Gilbert improves to 1-1 on the year as he went five innings allowing just three hits and striking out six batters. Gilbert set season highs in innings pitched, strikeouts and pitches thrown.
The Cutters are now 24-11 on the season and will look to keep their winning streak alive in the final game of the three game series. First pitch on Sunday from Ripken Stadium is scheduled for 5:35 P.M. The Cutters return home to Susquehanna Bank Park on Tuesday July 28th as they host the Lowell Spinners. It will be Cutters Food Drive Night as fans can donate 2 canned or non-perishable food items and receive a FREE general admission ticket or half-priced box seat ticket. All food will be donated to the Central PA Food Bank and is presented by ConAgra Food and WRAK.
Fans can order tickets online at Crosscutters.com/Tickets, via phone at (570) 326-3389 or in-person at Susquehanna Bank Park Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. The box office will then open for the game at 5:30 pm. All Crosscutters ticket, schedule and promotional information can be found at www.crosscutters.com.
Cutter Carvings -- Zach Coppola finished the night 3 for 5 with 2 RBI… Venn Biter went 2 for 5 with an RBI… Jesus Posso went 2 for 4 with a solo home run… Austin Bossart finished 2 for 4... Tyler Gilbert picked up his first professional win... Zach Coppola stole his 12th base of the season in the eighth inning...