West Virginia Splits Doubleheader in Williamsport

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - On the team's first road trip of the season, the West Virginia Black Bears split a pair of games with the Williamsport Crosscutters.
West Virginia boasts a 2-2 record on the young season, as the team comes home to begin a six-game home stand.
The Black Bears traveled to Williamsport on Sunday looking to build off of their first win of the season, but Mother Nature made them wait. Sunday's game with the Crosscutters was postponed and the two teams played a double header Monday, with both games shortened to seven innings.
Game 1:
In game one of the double header, West Virginia got five scoreless innings from its starting pitcher Michael Burrows setting the tone for a 2-0 win over Williamsport.
The game was delayed 43 minutes due to rain, but when Burrows finally hit the mound, he threw a masterpiece. Over his five innings of work, he only gave up two hits and struck out five batters.
The game was scoreless until the third inning when Black Bears designated hitter Nick Patten stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on and hit his first home run of the season.
The two-run blast and ended up being all of the offense that this team needed.
West Virginia reliever Cody Smith was lights out in his two innings of work, striking out 5 of the 6 batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings to earn the save.
Game 2:
In game two, the roles were reversed, and Williamsport turned it around and shut out the Black Bears 4-0.
West Virginia was held to just one hit, which was a single by leftfielder Brett Kinneman, and that was it for the offense.
The Crosscutters three pitchers combined to hurl a one-hitter and earn a split of the doubleheader.
The Black Bears got a solid outing from starting pitcher Winston Nicacio as he gave up only two runs over his four innings of work.
Williamsport jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and then added another in the second off of Nicacio. The Crosscutters then added two more runs in the fifth inning off of reliever Yandy Vega.
The Black Bears sit at 2-2 on the young season as they head back home to Monongalia County Ballpark Tuesday night. The team begins a six-game homestand, welcoming the Mahoning Valley Scrappers back into town for the first three contests.
All three games of the series will begin at 6:35 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.westvirginiablackbears.com.