Mitchell's blast vaults Power over Suns

HAGERSTOWN, MD (July 3, 2018) - Calvin Mitchell's three-run homer ignited a five-run seventh that lifted West Virginia to an 8-3 series finale win over the Hagerstown Suns Tuesday evening at Historic Municipal Stadium.
After Oneil Cruz singled and Fabricio Macias walked to begin the inning, Mitchell clubbed his eighth homer of the season over the right-center field fence to give West Virginia their first lead of the game at 6-3. Following Mitchell's long ball, Deon Stafford and Chris Sharpe singled to put runners at first and second. Then, Kyle Watson hit a liner up the middle to score Stafford and move Raul Siri to second base. Lolo Sanchez followed that up with a run-scoring knock of his own off Carlos Pena (0-1), making the score 8-3.

Ike Schlabach (5-1) worked two scoreless innings before West Virginia (8-4, 45-33) sent in Matt Seelinger to close the game out. The Farmingdale State College product spun two shutout frames while striking out three.
Hagerstown (3-9, 30-50) took the lead in the bottom of the first after a two-out throwing error from Power starter Travis MacGregor. On a routine ground out back to the hill, MacGregor tossed it over Watson's head at first, which allowed Luis Garcia to reach third. The next batter, Jake Scudder, knocked a single into right field to plate Garcia. Omar Meregildo then plopped a Texas League single in front of Sanchez in center. He was caught in a rundown after trying to stretch the single to a double, but, while the pickle was underway, Scudder came around to score as the Suns seized an early 2-0 lead.
MacGregor tossed five innings in his first start since May 14 for West Virginia. He allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, and struck out six Hagerstown sluggers.
Right fielder Fabricio Macias drew the Power within one in the top of the third after knocking a single to left on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. Macias's RBI single scored Watson, who led off the frame with a walk. 
In the bottom of the third, Hagerstown answered with three singles against MacGregor. Yasel Antuna led off with a single and moved to third on a one-out base hit from Garcia before scoring on Scudder's second run-scoring single of the evening.
Macias kept contributing for the Power in the sixth. He reached on an error to start the frame and would come around to score on a one-out single from Ben Bengtson to right. Three batters later, Watson earned a free pass with the bases loaded to plate Bengtson and tie the game at three.
West Virginia returns home tomorrow for a six-game homestand against the Lexington Legends and Hagerstown Suns, with first pitch of game one against Lexington Wednesday evening set for 7:05 p.m. from Appalachian Power Park. Southpaw Domingo Robles (6-4, 3.20 ERA) gets the nod for the Power, while the Legends have yet to announce their starter. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
West Virginia's homestand kicks off with the Power's July 4th Extravaganza. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates will open early at 5:30 p.m. so fans can enjoy a pregame performance by Taylor Wills at the Budweiser Dugout Bar during Happy Hour. $1.00 12-ounce drafts will be available for purchase from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The game will be followed by the biggest and best 4th of July pyrotechnical display in the Kanawha Valley, presented by Highmark West Virginia. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.