Fundamental baseball separated the two sides of the night, with Williamsport conceding four errors. In addition, Williamsport conceded 10 strikeouts compared to just three walks drawn.

“What I saw was bad baseball,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “I’ve never seen anything like that out there tonight… I might as well have gotten to home plate tonight for the lineup and say ‘hey, I’m gonna spot you six’ because that’s what we did.”

For the third time in the series, it would be Trenton getting on the board first in the top of the second. With one out, a misplayed ground ball by shortstop Vantrel Reed put Jared Beebe aboard. The speedster would swipe second and, with Billy Sullivan at the plate, score off of a double down the right field line. The hit was Sullivan’s first as a Thunder.

But similar to last night’s win, Williamsport found a response in the bottom of the third, starting with a two out single from TJ Rachherbaumer. A Vantrel Reed walk brought in Jackson Mayo, who would record his second go ahead hit in as many games that cleared the bases to make it 2-1.

Michael Zarrillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters reacts to a called third strike to end the bottom of the 7th against the Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Keeping with the theme of the night, the Thunder would strike back in the top of the fourth, starting with Williamsport starter Reilly Shafer walking John Schroeder and Cameron Yuran. Two batters later, the bases would load up when a broken bat swing from Jaden Sheffield came back to Shafer, who would misplay a potential inning ending double play for Williamsport’s second error of the game.

It would be an error that Williamsport would rue, with Andres Vega clearing the bases on a ripped double to the right field wall. Vega would come home in the next at-bat, when Jackson Tucker’s grounder to short forced another bad throw from Reed. The four-run fifth made it 5-2 Trenton.

Shafer would work into the fifth inning before being relieved. On his second appearance of the year and first of the second half, the Harrisburg native would go four and two thirds of an inning, giving up five unearned runs on four hits and two walks while throwing three strikeouts.Trenton starter MT Morrisey would go four innings in his Trenton Thunder, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Williamsport would fight back in the bottom of the seventh on another two out rally, starting with another TJ Racherbaumer single. A Vantrel Reed hit by pitch set up Jackson Mayo who, for the third time, smacked a double down the right field line to clear the bases. Mayo’s fourth and fifth RBI of the game cut the Trenton lead to one.

Controversy would strike later in the inning, when a Marcus Brodil walk brought up Michael Zarillo to the plate. With count at one ball and two strikes, Zarillo check swung at a pitch that the third base umpire deemed enough for a strikeout, much to the dismay of the crowd and the Williamsport dugout.

Max Mandler of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Jared Beebe of the Thunder at first base during the top of the 6th at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The missed opportunity would prove fatal for Williamsport, with Trenton getting two runs across in the top of the eighth.

Coming up against reliever David White, pinch hitters CJ Willis and Tyler Collins would both walk to reach base. A sacrifice bunt from Billy Sullivan put the pair in scoring position, with both scoring on a two run single from Andres Vega to make it 7-4 Trenton.

It was a career day for Vega, with the nine hole hitter going two for four with five runs batted in. Across the three game series, Vega batted .455.

There were notable bright spots in the lineup for Williamsport. At the plate, Jackson Mayo would finish three for four with three doubles and five runs batted in. TJ Racherbaumer also had a notable night in the nine hole, finishing two for three with a walk while scoring twice.

At the mound, Jax Howard was clean in relief, going two and a third innings pitched allowing just two walks and no hits.

Jackson Mayo of the Williamsport Crosscutters connects on a 2-RBI double against the Thunder at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The game also featured a debut at the plate in Marquis Jackson. The Chicago native would go zero for three at the plate, reaching twice on a hit by pitch and a fielding error.

The loss drops Williamsport to 1-2 on the second half campaign, with a 13-20 record overall on the season. The Crosscutters will look for redemption Saturday night when they host the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in a two game weekend set.

Pitcher David White of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws in the top of the 7th against the Thunder Journey Bank Ballpark. The Thunder won, 7-4. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters catches a ball hit by Justin Rubin of the Thunder during the third inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters fields a ball and throws out Jackson Tucker of the Thunder during the third inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Vantrel Reed of the Williamsport Crosscutters fields a ball hit by Jared Beebe of Trenton in the top of the second inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette