Lake County touched starter R.J. Seidel for three runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings and the rest of West Virginia’s pitching staff didn’t fare much better.
The Power didn’t produce enough runs out of their 12 hits either, dropping the first game of the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division playoff opener, 10-4, Wednesday night.
Game two is scheduled Friday evening and, if necessary, a third and deciding contest also will be played in Ohio.
The Captains jumped on Seidel, Reed Dickert and Jose Garcia for a 7-0 advantage on 10 hits and eight walks.
West Virginia, which clinched the second-half title Friday, got back into the game with a four-run sixth, ripping six hits, including RBI knocks from Steffan Wilson, Zelous Wheeler, Curt Rindal and Matt Cline, to make it 7-4.
But Lake County tallied one against Roque Mercedes in the seventh and two off Curtis Pasma in the ninth to put the victory on ice.
Lee Haydel finished 3 for 4 to lead West Virginia’s attack, while Wilson, Wheeler and Caleb Gindl each contributed two hits. But the Power got a combined 1 for 14 from their Nos. 1-3 hitters, Eric Farris, Logan Schafer and Eric Fryer.
Augusta won a pitcher’s duel, 1-0, against Asheville to win the Southern Division opener.