Miners Sweep Doubleheader Against Mill Rats

BECKLEY, W.Va. – The West Virginia Miners claimed both games of a Prospect League doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Johnstown Mill Rats 2-1 in the first contest and 13-10 in the nightcap.

In Game 1, the Mill Rats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Sam Mast plated Pete Capobianco with a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Miners answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game with a run-scoring single and following up with a sacrifice bunt to take the lead. Johnstown had the opportunity to even the score in the seventh, getting runners on first and third with no outs, but were unable to push any runs across.

Randy Carlo was 2-for-3 with a double for the Mill Rats. JD Greeley took the complete game loss after throwing six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six.

West Virginia then used a six-run eighth inning to erase a three-run deficit and earn a come-from behind victory in Game 2.

The Miners led 6-0 after one inning, to which the Mill Rats rallied to tie the game at six and eventually take a 10-7 lead in the top of the eighth. Johnstown out-hit West Virginia 17-11, and all nine starters recorded at least one hit, with six players tallying multiple base knocks.

Capobianco and Lukas Torres each tallied three hits to lead the Mill Rats, with Torres driving in three runs and scoring twice. Joe Alcorn had two hits and drove in two runs.

Johnstown (11-19) hosts West Virginia in its next contest on Monday at 7 p.m.