“Heck, we struck out 13 batters and lost,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “How many times has that happened… I’ve been here 13 years, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said ‘How has this happened?'”

Coming off of a win in which getting balls in play was key, West Virginia would do the same in the first after a Marcus Bradshaw walk and stolen base put the leadoff runner of the game in scoring position. A Luke Stulga groundout advanced the runner to third for Wills Maginnis, who gave the Black Bears an early lead with a sacrifice fly to left.

Across the next three innings, Williamsport twice would have a runner just ninety feet away from tying the game, only for clutch pitching by West Virginia starter Gabriel Barrett to snuff the change. In the second, the Crosscutters would get two into scoring position with two outs for George Malone, whose dream debut at-bat would stay just that as the highschooler went down on strikes.

In the fourth, the Cutters had another runner within 90 after a Chris Stanfield walk and stolen base led to a runner on third from an Owen Prince groundout. But fate would not befall Williamsport, who would concede a 103 mile per hour lineout and a long flyout to left that ended the fourth inning fruitless.

Chris Stanfield of the Crosscutters is tagged out at second by Kahanu Martinez of West Virginia at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Williamsport starter David Horn Jr. would turn a slow start into a fine finish across four innings of his own, giving up just one run on one hit with one walk and a Cutter early-season-best seven strikeouts.

The performance would be bested by West Virginia starter Gabriel Barrett, who would shut out the Cutters across six innings in his debut performance, which saw just two hits and eight strikeouts.

Barrett, in cooperation with Crosscutter reliever Chris Guillory, provided quick 0’s across innings four through seven in a stretch that had just seven total baserunners through the frames.

After five straight scoreless innings, the action would ramp up in controversial fashion in the top of the eighth inning. Facing new reliever Hudson Byrd, WV would turn runners on the corners on walks from Kahanu Martinez and Luke Stulga, with Martinez going to third on a wild pitch.

With just one away, Wills Maginnis would fly out down the right field wall, creating a double tag opportunity. Rightfielder Owen Prince would not be perturbed, however, firing out Stulga going to second. Unfortunately for Williamsport, home-plate umpire Marty Hasenfuss ruled that Martinez had scored prior to Stulga getting out, allowing West Virginia to double their lead.

KJ White of the Crosscutters dives for a ball hit by Ty Dalley of West Virginia during the 7th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

What followed was a long conference at the plate that saw one of the angriest rants Bowman Field had seen out of Kenny Thomas in his three years with the ballclub.

“We had a great throw from right field,” echoed Thomas. “And what I saw: The ball gets there, the tag is on him, and I look and the guy is four feet from home plate. But the home plate guy had to wait, or chose to wait, for the base umpire who delayed to call him out”

I don’t know, but he delayed about three seconds before he called him out. If we had instant replay, they probably would have changed that call, he added.”

The bottom of the eighth would add to the fireworks, providing Williamsport with their best chance to score following a leadoff single from pinch hitter Kyle Schupmann and a walk to Kelly Robertson.

But as was the theme of the day, the Cutters couldn’t get out of their own way. KJ White would bunt foul three pitches in a row for a strikeout and Chance Jennings would ground into a double play to relinquish the chance.

Chris Guillory of the Crosscutters throws against West Virginia at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Black Bears completed their scoring output in the ninth, with Luke Matthews slapping an RBI single to rightfield that brought in Ty Dalley from third to make it 3-0.

West Virginia would show their vulnerability in the bottom of the ninth inning, with closer Luke Lymon struggling to find the zone and allowing Chris Stanfield and Brodey Acres to advance on walks. Both would eventually score on a wild pitch and ground out to cut it to a 3-2 lead.

The last gasp would be for not, with a Nate McHugh popout ending the game and granting a series win to theBlack Bears.

“I was really impressed with our pitching guys tonight,” concluded Thomas, echoing the fact the Williamsport pitchers have allowed just five earned runs across the first two games. “I thought Horn started tonight and did a great job.”

The loss drops Williamsport to 0-2 on the season, marking the first time since 2023 the Cutters started off the season with back-to-back losses. The 2023 Cutters would drop their first five of the season that year, a fate Williamsport will look to prevent Thursday when they host the Black Bears in the series finale at Historic Bowman Field.

Kenny Thomas of the Crosscutters argues with home plate umpire Marty Hasenfuss after a call was made that West Virginia scored during the 8th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kyle Schupmann of the Crosscutters and throws out Marcus Bardshaw of West Virginia at first base in the 8th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ben Tryon of the Crosscutters doubles in the 7th inning against West Virginia at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Brodey Acres of the Crosscutters is tagged out by Gabriel Barrett of West Virginia in the second inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette