Black Bears Beat in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY - The Black Bears struggled during their three-game away series, dropping all three games to the Brooklyn Cyclones over the weekend.
Game 1:
In game one of the series the Black Bears got a solid starting pitching performance by RHP Will Kobos but fell to the Cyclones 3-1.
Kobos gave up a two-run double in the first inning but did not give up another run the rest of his outing. Kobos finished the day after a solid five innings and gave up only two runs with out five strikeouts.
The Black Bears would get on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI double by RF Matt Fraizer to close the gap 2-1. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn bullpen would give up no more runs after that and allowed only one hit over the last 5 1/3 innings of the game.
The only bright spot for the Black Bears offense was the two-hit nights for both Fraizer and DH Kyle Wilkie.
Brooklyn would add on an RBI single off Black Bears reliever RHP Xavier Concepcion in the 6^th inning to extend their lead to 3-1 and that would be the final score.
Game 2:
In game two of the series on Sunday afternoon, the Black Bears bats were once again stymied by phenomenal Brooklyn pitching as they were only able to muster up three hits in a 4-1 loss to the Cyclones.
West Virginia sent RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the hill, and he gave the team a quality start. He pitched six innings and gave up only three runs with 5 strike outs.
But the Black Bears dug themselves an early hole again and ended up 2-0 in the second inning on a sacrifice fly and an RBI triple to deep right field over the head of RF Blake Sabol.
The Cyclones loaded the bases in the fourth inning but Ashcraft was able to induce a 6-4-3 ground ball double play turned by SS Ethan Paul, 2B Dean Lockery to 1B Brendt Citta. The Cyclones added on another run to make it 3-0.
The Black Bears would get on the board in the eighth inning with a lined shot off of the second baseman's glove into right centerfield for an RBI double by Lockery to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Brooklyn came back and answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning when they scored on a passed ball that got past C Kyle Wilkie to make it 4-1.
Sabol would get on base in the ninth inning with a single but that would be all the Black Bears could conjure up. They lost the game by a final score of 4-1.
Game 3:
In game three of the series on Monday afternoon, the Black Bears were once again silenced at the plate by Cyclones pitching as they fell to Brooklyn 4-0.
West Virginia got yet another quality outing from their starter RHP Jesus Valles who pitched five innings and gave up only one run and with four strikeouts.
Brooklyn got on the board early for the third straight game with an RBI single in the second inning that made it 1-0. The game would stay that way until the seventh inning when Brooklyn put up a three-spot with a RBI double followed by a two-run home run to make it a 4-0 game.
C Ryan Haug's double was the only extra base hit by the Black Bears as their only other three hits were singles by 2B Cory Wood, and two from DH Blake Sabol.
The Black Bears begin their three-game series with the State College Spikes on Wednesday, July 17, at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Wednesday night is a 6:35 p.m. first pitch on Pittsburgh Pirates night at the ballpark. Thursday night is Ladies night hosted by WOW! Factory and also a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Friday night is fireworks night presented by City National Bank after the 7:05 p.m. game against the Spikes.
For more information or to order tickets visit www.westvirginiablackbears.com.