HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Tri-State Coal Cats bounced back in a big way Wednesday night, erupting for 13 runs to secure a split in their two-game homestand against the first-place Bluefield Ridge Runners.
After a 2-0 shutout loss Tuesday marked the Coal Cats’ third straight defeat -- and second consecutive game without scoring -- Tri-State responded with a run-rule victory in Game 2, improving to 13-20 on the season. Bluefield, which entered the series atop the Appalachian League standings, fell to 21-14.
Game 1 – Tuesday: Ridge Runners 2, Coal Cats 0
The opener was a pitchers’ duel throughout. Bluefield struck early with a first-inning RBI single from Ryan Niedzwiedz, then added another in the fourth via Ethan Guerra’s liner to plate Josh Hines. Those two runs proved to be enough.
Tri-State mustered just three hits and left several runners stranded. Jackson Golden was a bright spot, reaching base four times -- once via single and three times on walks -- but never came around to score.
Kenneth Jackson took the loss for Tri-State despite a solid outing: four innings, six hits, two runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Cesar Gonzalez added two scoreless innings of relief, fanning four.
Bluefield used a committee of arms to shut down the Coal Cats. Zach Applegate earned the win with two hitless innings, and Evan Mobley locked down the save, recording the final six outs.
Game 2 – Wednesday: Coal Cats 13, Ridge Runners 3 (7 innings)
A night later, it was all Coal Cats. Tri-State jumped out to a five-run lead in the first and never looked back, capping the night with a walk-off RBI single from Golden to secure a 13-3 run-rule win.
The Cats plated runs in four different innings, including four in the sixth and one in the seventh to end the game early. Tyler Smolinski belted his first home run of the season with a solo shot in the bottom of the third, while Gonzalez had a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Tucker Delisle got the start and pitched four solid innings, allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts. Eric Tovar made his Appalachian League debut out of the bullpen, earning the win with two innings of one-run relief.
Tri-State out-hit Bluefield, 9-5, and held the Ridge Runners scoreless after the fifth.
What’s Next
With the split, Tri-State gains a bit of momentum heading into a packed road weekend. The Coal Cats travel to face the Greeneville Flyboys for a unique doubleheader Thursday, including a makeup of an earlier postponed game. The series wraps up Friday with a third and final contest.
From there, Tri-State heads straight to Bluefield for a two-game weekend rematch before returning to Jack Cook Field for the final homestand of the 2025 season.
For more information about the Tri-State Coal Cats, visit appyleague.com/tri-state or follow @TriStCoalCats on X and Instagram.
