Auburn Takes Victory in Series Finale

Granville, W. Va. - In the final game of a series at Monongalia County Ballpark, the West Virginia Black Bears lost to the Auburn Doubledays 8-4.
 
Despite the loss, the Black Bears win the series against the postseason-hungry Doubledays, taking the previous two contests in walk-off fashion.
 
Auburn jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI fielder's choice, but West Virginia wasted no time in response. With a runner on second base in the bottom of the inning, 3B Mike Gretler roped a single into right field to tie the score at 1-1.
 
The Black Bears took the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to the heart of the batting order. Two- hole hitter RF Brett Kinneman picked up the team's second run on an RBI triple, and the clean-up man Gretler brought him around to score on a sac fly to build a two-run advantage.
 
The Doubledays chipped away at the lead in the top of the fourth with a sac fly of their own to make it a one-run ballgame.
 
Then in the top of the fifth inning, Auburn stormed back to take the lead. An RBI single and a two-run homer put the score at 5-3 with four and one-half innings left to play.
 
West Virginia cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, as 1B Ben Bengston scored from third base on a wild pitch to give his team some life going into the final two innings.
 
After a scoreless eighth, the Doubledays collected three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. A pair of singles put the score at 8-4, as the visitors needed only three outs to lock up their first win of the series.
 
Auburn shut out the Black Bears in the ninth, sealing a victory as they fight for playoff position in the Pinckney Division.
 
West Virginia takes its final road trip of the season to face the State College Spikes. First pitch for tomorrow's series opener is set for 7:05 p.m.