NILES — Mother Nature shortened Sunday’s game between the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and West Virginia to less than six full innings, as a strong line of storms swept through Niles just before 5 p.m.

However, the storms were too little, too late as far as the Black Bears were concerned, as the Scrappers spent the early afternoon creating their own thunder.

The Scrappers needed just five innings to pound out 13 hits — including six doubles — resulting in a 9-2 win over West Virginia. The game was called with the Black Bears batting in the sixth inning.

As had been the case throughout the past week, the Scrappers’ offense struck early — this time in the first inning. A one-out walk followed by a Carslos Sanchez ground rule double set the table for Scrappers first baseman Bryce Hubbard.

West Virginia starting pitcher Gabe Smith was forced to leave the game following Sanchez’s hit after facing just three batters. Hubbard greeted reliever Quentin Pohorski with a two-RBI single into left field, giving the Scrappers a 2-0 lead.

“Playing in this league is a great experience, day in and day out you’re facing a lot of really talented arms with a lot of high velocity,” Hubbard said. “It’s a challenge, but that’s what you expect, that’s what you want when you’re trying to reach that next level.”

Hubbard recently completed his fourth year of college baseball at Oregon State. He says that his status is “up in the air” as to whether or not the NCAA will grant him a fifth year. For now, he’s content with using his time in the MLB Draft League to showcase his talents to Major League scouts.

“That’s what we’re all here for, a chance to give ourselves an opportunity to get signed,” Hubbard said. “I’m just taking things one day at a time. In baseball, especially at this level when you’re playing every day, you can’t get too high when things are going good and you can’t get down when you hit a little slump.

“For all of us, it’s about staying consistent, staying true to who you are.”

The Scrappers doubled their lead in the second. Tommy Harrison doubled to open the inning and advanced to third on a Josue Malave one-out single. Both runners scored when Edison Polanco laced a line drive to the right field wall. Polanco was thrown out at home plate in his attempt at an inside-the-park home run.

The hit-and-run parade continued in the third. A Sanchez single and a Hubbard double provided Jack Cannon with the opportunity to knock in a pair of runs, and Cannon delivered with a two-RBI double. Harrison followed with his second double of the game, and the Scrappers’ fifth double through three innings, extending the lead to 7-0. Jarren Purify capped the third inning scoring with an RBI single.

West Virginia scored in the top of the fourth on a Derrick Tarpley home run.

Scrappers starter Ciaran Caughey entered the game having worked 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in two relief appearances. However, in his first start of the season, Caughey worked four innings, giving up just the one run while scattering four hits and recording four strikeouts.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Scrappers’ doubles barrage continued with a Sanchez leadoff two-bagger. Sanchez then scored on a Nick Williams base hit.

Polanco, Hubbard and Cannon each had two RBIs. Sanchez went 3-for-3, lifting his batting average to .486.

Hubbard says he and his teammates are “settling in” as the Draft League enters its third week of the season.

“Most of us are used to playing summer ball, so there’s not much of an adjustment in terms of playing every day or anything like that,” Hubbard said. “It’s more about structure. Understanding what the coaching staff wants from its players, knowing exactly what the schedules are throughout the day.

“There’s an adjustment from college to this level in terms of structure, but other than that it’s all good.”

Following a day off today, the Scrappers will begin a three-game road series on Tuesday at Williamsport.