The win marks three straight for Williamsport to start the season.

Pitching was the deciding factor in the contest, with the mix of four initial shutout innings parlayed with stellar hitting in the second half of the frame.

“What I’m proud of is the way the guys battled,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “They really battled hard tonight. … That’s what I want to teach these guys.”

The early action was headlined by stellar pitching with Williamsport starter Jake Moss going neck-and-neck with Mahoning Valley slinger Austin Newton. The two brought their A-game in their MLB Draft League debuts, with the two allowing one combined hit in the first two innings.

Matthew Graveline of the Williamsport Crosscutters breaks toward home plate and scores in the fifth inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It would be the Crosscutters providing the first threat in the bottom of third with Matthhew Graveline garnering a leadoff walk, followed by a slap single by Ryan Kennell that put runners at the corners.

But against the early test, it would be Newton standing tall, stranding the runners on base with a Dylan Schaeffer strikeout, Carlos Castillo pop out, and, on his final pitch of his outing, a Logan Johnstone groundout that kept the sides scoreless through three.

Moss would remain impregnable for the Cutters during his four innings of work, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out four in his debut appearance with the Cutters.

It would be Mahoning Valley that drew first blood in the top of the fifth against reliever Tyler Boudreau, with walks to Michael Sindelka and Seth Farni opening the frame, A Ty Thomson fielder’s choice moved Sindelka to third, with the cleanup batter scoring on a single from LJ Layhew that put the visitors ahead.

But that lead would only last to the bottom half. Going up against reliever Drew Lafferty, Williamsport would take the lead despite not recording a hit, after a Matthew Graveline walk and an error put the tying run at third. Nine hole hitter Dylan Shaefer would do his part, getting on base with a fielder’s choice that scored Graveline and tied the game up.

Kenny Thomas of the Williamsport Crosscutters watches closely as his team plays during the second inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Vying to get into scoring position, Schaefer stole second and, with the attempted put out going into the outfield, advanced to third as the go ahead runner. That run would be scored on another error in the field, with Carlos Castillo beating out an errant throw that gave the Cutters a 2-1 advantage after five.

Mahoning Valley’s closest chance at an equalizer came in the seventh, with the bottom of the order loading the bases with one away. But reliever Jed Boyle would come up big, putting out two in a row to keep the one run advantage.

The bullpen would get the advantage in the bottom half, starting with a leadoff double from Kennell. A sacrifice bunt by Dylan Schhaefer would move the Williamsport native 90 feet away, and would only briskly walk home on an RBI triple from Carlos Castillo, his first hit of the season.

Logan Johnstone turned it into a proper rally one at bat later, lacing a double down the left field line that scored Castillo to make it 4-1.

Mahoning Valley would get one back in the top of the eighth. After Cardell Thibodeaux Jr. reached base on a walk, five-hole hitter Seth Farni sent him home on an RBI double that cut the lead to two.

Matthew Graveline of the Williamsport Crosscutters celebrates scoring in the fifth inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But hopes of a comeback were quickly quelled in the bottom half, thanks to a three run blast by catcher Matthew Graveline. The first home run of the Ohio State junior gave the Cutters a 7-2 advantage.

“I finally caught one,” said Graveline, who finished 1-1 with two walks, along with three putouts behind the plate defensively. “That felt amazing. I was sitting on a fast ball the whole at-bat. He threw a fastball that I fouled, slider in the dirt, and then I finally got the pitch I was looking for.”

Despite two late runs from the Scrappers in the ninth, it would be viewed as nothing more than a consolation in the home opening win.

The win moves Williamsport to 3-0 on the season, keeping their hold for first in the MLB Draft League and becoming the only team in the league to remain undefeated. Williamsport will look for their second sweep in as many series on Sunday when they host Mahoning in the finale.

Matthew Graveline of the Williamsport Crosscutters breaks toward home plate and scores in the fifth inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jake Moss of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws in the first inning to the Scrappers of the at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets the tag out of Cadell Thibodeaux at second base during the first inning of the at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters runs to first on a single in the fifth inning as Dylan Schaefer (background) scores against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters slides safely into second as Ty Powell of Mahoning Valley can’t get to the ball thrown to second during the fifth inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets the force out of Seth Farni of Mahoning Valley during the fifth inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette