Cutters Fall To Black Bears In Series Opener

Granville, WV – The Williamsport Crosscutters continue to look for their first win of the 2023 MLB Draft League season as the West Virginia Black Bears rally in the eight inning to defeat Williamsport 6-5 in the opening matchup of this three-game series.

The Cutters were the first to find the scoreboard in the second inning as Jack Oberdorf drove a triple to center field and went on to score on a Joseph Sullivan sacrifice fly. In the next at-bat, Jacob Harper would drive in Reed Chumley, who earlier worked a walk, to give Williamsport a 2-0 lead.

Williamsport's lead would hold until the bottom of the third inning as Cutters starter Will Schomberg surrendered two home runs that saw four Black Bears score and gave West Virginia a 4-2 lead.

The Cutters quickly responded as Reed Chumley worked his second straight walk to lead off the fourth inning, and would score his second run of the night on a Jacob Harper home run to left-center field. That homer gave Harper his 2nd and 3rd RBI's of the night and tied the game at 4.

The game would stay tied until the sixth inning before Gage Gundy worked a two-out walk, and stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch. giving the Cutters a 5-4 lead.

Williamsport's bullpen, being called to action to start the fourth inning, looked strong early on with Colbey Klepper and Jack Crowder combining to hold the Black Bears off the scoreboard while allowing just two hits and one walk in four innings of work.

Creed Watkins would take over in the eighth inning and would walk the first two batters he faced before leaving the game with an apparent injury. This would bring Jacob Peaden into the contest, who would walk the first batter he faced before surrendering back-to-back RBI's and giving the Black Bears the lead for good at 6-5.

With tonight's loss, Williamsport falls to 0-5 on the season. The Cutters continue this three-game road series in West Virginia tomorrow with a 6:30pm first pitch.