Frederick, MD – The Keys fell victim to a five run sixth inning on Friday night, falling in the season’s penultimate game to West Virginia by a 9-4 score.

Both Frederick’s Albert Cuello Batista and West Virginia’s Nathan Madej stranded the bases loaded in the first inning before West Virginia opened the scoring on a double by Cam Ridley, who had previously doubled to lead off the game.

A wild pitch and passed ball allowed the Black Bears to add another pair in the third inning.

Noah Martinez delivered the first Keys run in the bottom of the third inning with a run scoring double. They chipped away to tie the game with a Kirkland Banks sac fly in the fourth and Noah Martinez single in the fifth.

But in the top of the sixth, things went off the rails for the Keys. After the Black Bears took the lead on a Michael Cooper single, they got another run on an errant throw to first base that otherwise would have ended the inning. Instead, a two-run double from Anthony Hansen and RBI single from Tyner Hughes capped off a 5-spot that put West Virginia up 8-3.

After the Keys scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, West Virgnia answered right back with a Dellerman sac fly. The Keys went down in order in the ninth as West Virginia closed out the 9-4 win.

The Keys will close out their 2023 season on Saturday with a 6 PM first pitch for Fan Appreciation Night.