In an offensive drought for the first two games, a seven-run fourth inning and four-run seventh for the Cutters quickly rectified that fact in a win to ease the Williamsport crowd.

“I’ve always said that offense is contagious,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “You get a couple guys going, next thing you know, you got more going. Before you know it, we had seven runs in there. That was pretty awesome. Obviously, we have struggled offensively, so that was really good to see tonight.”

Williamsport opener Max McEwen would concede the first run of the game without a hit allowed. Leadoff man Marcus Bradshaw would continue his strong start with a leadoff walk and steal to get in scoring position. The West Virginia designated hitter would take it from there, tagging on back to back flyouts to give the visitors an early lead.

After a brutal stretch of six straight strikeouts by Williamsport bats courtesy of West Virginia starter Collin McKinney, the Cutters offense would get circulating in the bottom of the third courtesy of Addison Smith.

Kyle Schupman of the Crosscutters throws out Luke Stulga of West Virginia during the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Smith would notch his second hit of the season to lead off the bottom of the frame, and quickly move 90 feet from home on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Nine-hole hitter Slaide Burd added further fuel to the fire, reaching base on a walk and stealing second to put two in scoring position.

Two batters later and the game would be tied off of an Amari Allen sacrifice flyout to left field that brought in Smith for the equalizer.

McKinney would make it through the third before being relieved, finishing with one earned run on one hit with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Wild pitching would become the catalyst in West Virginia retaking the lead a half inning later. Leading off the fourth, Beau Sylvester would snag his second hit of the game, with a weak Luke Stulga groundout moving the early go ahead run in scoring position. What followed was two wild pitches from reliever Colten Kennedy in the same at-bat, prompting Sylvester to score.

The batter at the plate Anthony Karis would advance on the latter wild pitch via a walk, and turn one corner to the other on a double down the line from nine hole batter Kahanu Martinez. Both would wind up scoring in the inning, with Karis making it home on a wild pitch and Martinez getting in on a Marcus Bradshaw sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.

Brodey Acres of the Crosscutters celebrates with team mates after scoring in the 4th inning against West Virginia at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But Williamsport bats would prove they came to play, with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the fourth from Ben Tryon against Clinton Harris putting quick pressure on. A one out walk from Steele Burd later, and Tryon would come in to score from an RBI single by Kyle Schupman. It was Williamsport’s first hit with a runner in scoring position on the season.

Addison Smith would step up again to make sure it wouldn’t be the only one, blooping a double down the left field line to score Steele and cut the lead to one run with two in scoring position. With his brother Steele on third, nine hole hitter Slaide Burd would make it an official rally on another bloop single to center field that cleared the bases for Williamsport’s first lead of the season.

The rally would continue with Amari Allen, whose grounder led to an errant throw by the West Virginia shortstop allowing Slaide Burd to score. Allen himself would come home on the next at-bat. After stealing both second and third, the DC native would trot home on a run-scoring single by Brodey Acres.

Another stolen base from the inning, this time by Acres, led in the rally starter Tryon, who snagged his team high third RBI of the season on a rip single to right field. In total, the seven-run fourth inning gave Williamsport an 8-4 lead approaching the halfway mark.

West Virginia trimmed the lead a half inning later, with an Anthony Karis grounder landing under the glove of shortstop Addison Smith for a run scored off an error.

Amari Allen of the Crosscutters is safe at third as William Maginnis of West Virginia tries to make the tag at third during the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But Smith’s dream day at the plate continued in the bottom of the seventh, with the middle infielder snagging a two run single for his second and third RBI on the day via his third hit. Another run came across courtesy of a double corner steal that saw Kyle Schupman touch home for the third time of the day while Smith advanced on a throwing error. Smith would score on an at-bat later with a rip KJ White single to make it 12-5.

“He’s a really good player,” Thomas discussed. “He can play anywhere and in the infield and he’s a switch hitter. He’s got some speed and he just battles up there.”

Williamsport’s bullpen would secure it from there, with additional relief from Jackson Nash and Myles Meyer securing a vital win for the Cutters.

The win improves Williamsport to 1-2 on the season, potentially evading both the State College Spikes and the Aberdeen Ironbirds out of the bottom of the MLB Draft League depending on the end of their respective games.

The Cutters will hit the road in the next seven days for a six-game road trip that sees stops against the Trenton Thunder and Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Slaide Burd of the Crosscutters pumps his fist after scoring against West Virginia in the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Slaide Burd of the Crosscutters celebrates with team mates after scoring against West Virginia in the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Addison Smith of the Crosscutters celebrates a double in the 4th inning against West Virginia at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Addison Smith of the Crosscutters scores in the 4th inning as Anthony Karis of West Virginia tries to make the play during the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ben Tryon of the Crosscutters rounds second base on a triple against West Virginia during the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette