Black Bears Give 'Gades Black Eye

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY -The West Virginia Black Bears scored six runs over the final two innings to overcome a three-run deficit and defeat the Hudson Valley Renegades 7-5 Wednesday evening from Dutchess Stadium.
The Renegades got the ball rolling in the first when third baseman Adrian Rondon scalded a two-out, three-run homerun over the leftfield wall to give Hudson Valley a 3-0 lead. I t was Rondon's second dinger of the year. The stage was set for him thanks to a one-out throwing error by West Virginia second baseman Robert Glendinning, which gave Hudson Valley an extra out.
The home team would use the longball again in the fifth to expand their lead. This time it was centerfielder Michael Smith belting a solo shot to right. It was his second homerun of the season as the Renegades took a 4-0 lead.
West Virginia went yard themselves in the sixth to get a run back. Centerfielder Travis Swaggerty swatted a solo homerun to right-centerfield to put the Black Bears on the board. It was also his second homerun of the year.
However, it was the eighth inning where the Black Bears did their damage as they scored five runs on four hits. Designated hitter Edison Lantigua started the inning with an infield single to second before Glendinning atoned for his error by roping an RBI double into right-centerfield. After a walk and sac bunt put runners at second and third with one out, first baseman Luke Mangieri chopped an infield single to second, which scored both runners to tie the game. Rightfielder Brett Kinneman immediately followed that with a two-run homerun to right to give the Black Bears their first lead of the game at 6-4. It was Kinneman's first homerun of the year.
Hudson Valley closed to within one in the bottom-of-the-eighth. Shortstop Ford Proctor led off with a single to left-center, moved to second on a passed ball, the scored on a groundball single to center from first baseman Jacson McGowan. The Renegades had runners at first and second with nobody out following the RBI single, but a fly out by Rondon, a fielder's choice by rightfielder Marvin Malone, and a strikeout of leftfielder Jake Stone kept the Renegades deficit at one.
West Virginia got the run right back in the ninth when Lantigua belted his first dinger of the year. It was a solo shot to right, which led to the 7-5 final.
Getting the win for West Virginia in relief was Miguel Hernandez (2-0) who fired two scoreless innings. The loss went to Renegades relief man Trey Cumbie (1-1) who allowed six runs on five hits in one-plus inning of work. Closer Cameron Alldred struck out two of the three men he faced in a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down his first save of the season.
The Black Bears had 12 hits for the game including a 3-4 effort from Lantigua who homered, doubled, scored twice and drove in a run. Swaggerty chipped in by going 2-4 with a homerun, double, RBI and two runs scored. In addition Kinneman had a homer, two RBI and a run scored for West Virginia, while shortstop Connor Kaiser added two singles as well.
Hudson Valley finished with seven hits for the contest. McGowan led the way by going 2-3 with an RBi and run scored.
Hudson Valley continues its three-game series against West Virginia tomorrow. Game time is 7:05. Right-hander Michael Mercado (0-0, 5.21 ERA) on the hill for the Renegades against southpaw Zach Spears (0-0, 4.26 ERA) of the Black Bears. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.