No. 1 Frankfort falls to Morgantown, 7-6, in extras
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Frankfort scheduled a blockbuster Opening Day, and Morgantown held up its end of the bargain to produce a barn burner.
The Falcons erased a three-run deficit with a five-spot in the sixth inning, but Morgantown didn't go away, scoring twice in the seventh to force extras. Jackson Brodeson tied it up with an RBI single with his team down to its final strike.
West Virginia signee Weston Mazey walked it off an inning later, lifting Morgantown to a 7-6, extra-inning victory over No. 1 Frankfort on Wednesday at Mylan Park's Dale Miller Field.
"We've got to play better defense. That's my biggest takeaway from the game," Frankfort head coach Matt Miller said. "We gave up two unearned we shouldn't have given up, and that's uncharacteristic.
"But it's the first game. Last year we lost an eight-inning game to Martinsburg in Game 1, and the season ended up pretty good. Maybe we can do the same thing."
The matchup pegged two state tournament participants from last spring against one another.
Frankfort (0-1) capped a 23-9 campaign with an 8-0 rout of Independence in the Class AA state championship game. The title was the Falcons' first since 1988.
Morgantown (1-0), meanwhile, fell in the state semifinals in Class AAA, eliminating Bridgeport in regionals along the way, to finish with a 29-9 mark.
The Mohigans took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning, as RHP Vinnie Aloi, a WVU Potomac State commit, held the Falcons to one unearned run on one hit through five frames.
Frankfort's bats came alive the third time through the lineup to forge ahead, stringing together six hits to plate five runs and take a 6-4 edge in the sixth.
Jesus Perdew recorded the go-ahead knock facing a 1-2 count with two outs, shooting a two-RBI single to left field to break a tie. Perdew also had an RBI groundout in the second inning for the Falcons' first run.
"With two strikes and two outs, Jesus just came through," Miller said. "He did a really nice job. He fought that at-bat. Lefty-lefty, fouled off a couple outside pitches."
Uriah Cutter drove in a pair with a single earlier in the frame, and Jacob Nething lined a single for another RBI.
Aloi, who belted a two-run homer in the second inning, pulled Morgantown within a run with a two-out, RBI single in the seventh.
After a walk, Brodeson forced extras with a run-scoring hit facing a 2-2 count.
An inning-ending double play erased a potential Frankfort rally in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Mazey to plate the winning run, which originally reached on a leadoff walk.
"Two leadoff walks today, they both scored, and those come back to haunt you," Miller said. "We preach strike one, getting ahead of hitters, but it happens."
Lanson Orndorf had a pair of hits for Frankfort, Cutter drove in two, Blake Jacobs doubled and Jaxon Hare scored twice.
Aloi went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Mazey was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Left-hander Judd Messerly earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks in three innings of relief.
Frankfort started its All-State ace Orndorf, who allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in three innings of work.
The right-hander, like the rest of the Falcons' arms, was on a 60-pitch limit.
He was relieved by Rhett Sensabaugh, who allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts to two walks in four innings pitched.
LHP Lane Lease took the loss for the Falcons.
Frankfort committed three errors, the most significant a two-out throwing error in the third inning that plated a pair of unearned Morgantown runs.
Morgantown made one error, netting Frankfort an unearned run in the second.
Mohigans right fielder Ryan Nipper had two assists, gunning down runners at the plate in the sixth and seventh innings.
Up next, Frankfort hosts Washington on Saturday at noon, followed by a difficult stretch against Martinsburg and East Hardy to begin next week.
"The reason we schedule these teams is to prepare for the end of the season," Miller said. "The only way to get better is to challenge your players."
| 1d 6:23 PM ET ago |
Topics
-
Morgantown falls to George Washington 49-47 in Class AAAA semifinals
Mar. 22—CHARLESTON — For the first time in three seasons, there will be a new team to take home the title in Class AAAA boys' basketball as the three-time defending state champions Morgantown fell ...Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Area baseball preview: Frankfort returns championship experience
After taking a young team to the West Virginia Class AA mountaintop, Frankfort opens the 2025 season with the most returning talent. The Falcons finished 22-9, capturing their first state ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Morgantown falls short in Class AAAA state championship with 62-45 loss to Spring Valley
Mar. 15—CHARLESTON — The Morgantown girls' basketball team fell 62-45 to top-seeded Spring Valley in the Class AAAA state championship on Saturday in Charleston. The Timberwolves took an 11-8 lead ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Morgantown set to battle George Washington in Class AAAA state semifinals
Mar. 13—CHARLESTON — The Morgantown High girls' basketball team will meet a familiar state tournament foe as the Mohigans will square off with George Washington on Friday evening in the Class AAAA ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Morgantown, University, Clay-Battelle set for quarterfinals of boys state basketball tournament
Mar. 18—CHARLESTON — Monongalia County will be well-represented this week in Charleston as all three public high schools have qualified for the 2025 WVSSAC boys' basketball tournament. Rivals ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Nebraska falls to UCLA 5-2
Nebraska opened up its three-game series with UCLA Friday night. Though it rallied after a 2-0 deficit, the Huskers fell in the end to the Bruins 5-2.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Petersburg beats Tygarts Valley, 9-2, in opener
PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Petersburg's arms held Tygarts Valley to just two hits, and the Vikings took advantage of 11 walks and five errors to roll 9-2 in their opener on Wednesday. The Vikings (1-0) ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
No. 24 WVU takes down Oklahoma State on Jace Rineart's home run
Mar. 16—MORGANTOWN — Jace Rineart's two-run home run in the seventh inning provided the winning runs. WVU relief pitcher Chase Meyer still made the biggest impact for the 24th-ranked Mountaineers, ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
No. 24 WVU looks to prove it belongs in series against Big 12 favorite Oklahoma State
Mar. 13—MORGANTOWN — It won't exactly be a homecoming for WVU baseball coach Steve Sabins when the 24th-ranked Mountaineers roll into Oklahoma State. Rest assured, the three-game series with the ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
More from Yahoo Sports
-
March Madness 2025: How to watch the USC vs. UNC Greensboro women's NCAA tournament game today
Everything we know about the ongoing women's 2025 NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Rookie Justin Edwards drawing praise from Sixers for strong play
Undrafted rookie Justin Edwards has received praise from the Philadelphia 76ers for his strong play out on the floor.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
UFC London LIVE: Leon Edwards fights Sean Brady in must-win main event
Follow live as home favourite Edwards faces Brady, while aiming to bounce back from his title lossYahoo Sports - 2h -
Osceola Video: Mike Norvell on Day 3 as FSU puts on full pads
Mike Norvell discusses Florida State's first day in pads, what he saw from physicality with the Seminoles in Saturday's practice. In the video below, Norvell discusses quarterbacks Tommy ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Hailey Van Lith vs. Louisville when TCU guard faces team she went deep in March Madness with 3 times
Hailey Van Lith is trying to get with TCU where she went three times with Louisville, deep into the women's NCAA Tournament. As fate would have it in the standout guard's fifth and final March ...Yahoo Sports - 13m
More in Sports
-
March Madness 2025: How to watch the USC vs. UNC Greensboro women's NCAA tournament game today
Everything we know about the ongoing women's 2025 NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Rookie Justin Edwards drawing praise from Sixers for strong play
Undrafted rookie Justin Edwards has received praise from the Philadelphia 76ers for his strong play out on the floor.Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Osceola Video: Mike Norvell on Day 3 as FSU puts on full pads
Mike Norvell discusses Florida State's first day in pads, what he saw from physicality with the Seminoles in Saturday's practice. In the video below, Norvell discusses quarterbacks Tommy ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Hailey Van Lith vs. Louisville when TCU guard faces team she went deep in March Madness with 3 times
Hailey Van Lith is trying to get with TCU where she went three times with Louisville, deep into the women's NCAA Tournament. As fate would have it in the standout guard's fifth and final March ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Men's NCAA tournament live tracker: Purdue in control, and more updates from round of 32
nullESPN - 15m