[Empty Body]
AUBURN, NY -- The Auburn Doubledays, Short Season Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell to the West Virginia Black Bears, Short Season Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-1 on Saturday night. The Black Bears took the season series with the Doubledays six games to three.
Each side had golden chances to open the scoring in the fourth inning. West Virginia (38-33) put two runners on base with one out in the top of the fourth on a Deon Stafford double and a Lucas Tancas single, but Kyle Johnston squelched the fire with a strikeout and a lineout. Joshual Ramirez singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth for Auburn (27-43), moved to second on an error, and moved even further to third on a stolen base, but two consecutive strikeouts promptly left him at third to end the inning.
The Black Bears busted open the game with four runs in the top of the sixth. Five hits and a walk scored the four runs, highlighted by RBI singles from Robbie Glendinning and Sandy Santos coupled with a two-run double from Julio De La Cruz. Jared Johnson was tagged with all four runs in the top of the sixth; the lefty was relieving Auburn starter Kyle Johnston, who tossed five scoreless innings in his start tonight.
West Virginia and Auburn traded runs in the seventh. The Black Bears scored their run on a passed ball, while the Doubledays scored their run on an RBI double by Chance Shepard that drove home Kameron Esthay. Shepard had four hits in the series, including two doubles and a home run.
Auburn threatened in the eighth, but could not score. Singles from Nic Perkins and Joshual Ramirez put runners on first and third with two down, but Kameron Esthay popped out to shortstop to end the threat. The game was still 5-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, yet Matt Seelinger set down the Auburn side in order to end the game.
Auburn moves on to State College for a three-game series starting Sunday evening at 6:05. Nick Raquet is the Doubledays' scheduled starter, while Daniel Castano while likely start for the Spikes.
