SPRINGFIELD, OH – The West Virginia Miners got an early 3-0 lead and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a rain-shortened game, with the Miners winning 6-5 at Carleton Davidson Stadium.
It was the second straight night that the visitors took a 3-0 in their first inning, but the Kings battled back. In the second inning, Jayson Zmejkoski’s (North Port, FL; Tallahassee CC) RBI single scored Ben Stuart (Mason, OH; Evansville) to cut the lead down to two. While West Virginia was able to get two runs shortly, a big inning was in store for Champion City. In the fifth inning, Edrick Padilla (Salinas, Puerto Rico; Ohio Wesleyan) hit a no-doubt-about-it home run over the right field fence, and the Kings were back within one. The Kings tied it up in the seventh inning, as a foul sacrifice fly by Jonah Sutton (Collierville, TN; Memphis) scored Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, WI; Valparaiso) to tie the game.
West Virginia would score the winning run in their eighth inning, and hold off a comeback attempt to take the game 6-5.
Aaron Miller (Canton, OH; Notre Dame College) made his second start, allowing five earned runs through four innings on three hits, three walks, and six strikeouts. Evan Lorey (Howell, MI; Spring Arbor Univ.) made his debut on the mound, throwing 3+ innings of the work. His three full frames were scoreless, but he walked his only batter in the eighth to take the loss. Lorey would give up an unearned run on two hits while striking out three. Johnathon Ray (Sylvania, OH; Tiffin Univ.) pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two.
The second half record now stands at 4-8, as Champion City hits the road for four games in three days. For ticket information, PLTV links, and more, please visit championcitykings.com!