Bears Outduel 'Gades

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY- In a game that only featured 10 hits, one walk and 19 strikeouts, it was West Virginia getting the better of Hudson Valley 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Dutchess Stadium.
Starters Mikey York of Hudson Valley and Ike Schlabach of West Virginia were both outstanding as they matched each other zero for zero through the first half of the game. However, it was a costly fielding error that gave the Renegades the lead in the fifth. With leftfielder Oscar Rojas on first and two away, third baseman Bill Pujols hit a hard groundball that went between the legs of Black Bears third baseman Dylan Busby. The ball went down the leftfield line, which allowed Rojas to score from first and give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead.
West Virginia tried to tie the game in the seventh as a hit batsman and a stolen base put a runner at second with two out. Busby, in an attempt to redeem his error, send a deep flyball into right-centerfield that appeared destined for a double. However, rightfielder Angel Perez chased the ball down in the alley and kept the score 1-0.
However, the Black Bears were finally able to break through in the eighth as designated hitter Tristan Gray started the inning with a resounding triple to right just beyond the reach of Perez. With the infield back, rightfielder Bligh Madris grounded out softly to second to score Gray and tie the game at one.
Things stayed that way until the 10^th as back-to-back singles by Busby and Gray put runners at first and second with no one out for West Virginia. A wild pitch moved them to second and third setting the stage for Madris who lifted a sac fly to right-centerfield to score Busby and give the Black Bears the lead.
In the bottom of the 10^th, a single and error put runners at the corners with two outs for the Renegades, however second baseman Vidal Brujan struck out looking on a borderline 2-2 pitch to end the game.
Each team had five hits. Gray finished 2-4 for West Virginia with a triple and run scored. Rojas led the Renegades with two singles and scored the team's lone run.
The win went to Black Bears reliever Allen Oller (1-1) who pitched the final two scoreless innings while allowing a hit, no walks and striking out three. The loss went to reliever Jose Disla (0-1) of the Renegades who allowed an earned run on two hits in his lone inning of work.
Though they did not figure into the decision, both starters were great. York went six scoreless innings for Hudson Valley he allowed only one baserunner, a single to second baseman Raul Siri, and faced the minimum as Siri was thrown out trying to steal. He also struck out seven. As for Schlabach, the Black Bears southpaw allowed the unearned run in six innings on only four hits. He also did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Hudson Valley wraps up its series with West Virginia tomorrow. First-pitch is slated for 7:05. Renegades right-hander Hector Lopez (0-3, 6.00 ERA) will take on righty Sergio Cubilete (2-1, 3.24 ERA) of the Black Bears. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.

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