Big Fourth Inning Pushes Black To 2-0 Series Lead
PEMBROKE – Gold set the tone early with a trio of runs in the opening frame, but Black blew a close game wide open with six runs in the fourth inning to stake claim to a 2-0 Fall World Series lead with a 7-4 win over Gold on Wednesday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.
Black (2-0) got multi-hit outings from three different players, including Brad Bridgeman who drove in a pair of runs and scored once on a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Newcomer Victor Zecca tripled, drove in two runs and scored twice on a 2-for-4 hitting line, while Eitan "E.T." Maoz scored a run on a 2-for-4 day as well.
Gold (0-2) mustered just five hits in the outing, led by captain Kyle Adair who singled in a run in the seventh inning to highlight a 2-for-3 plate performance – the only multi-hit showing of the day for the visitors. J.J. Williams, Tyler Potter and Jordan Edgerton accounted for the other three hits on the day as Gold saw the last five hitters in its batting order combine for a 1-for-14 exhibition. Potter also scored a pair of runs as well.
Freshman Jordan DeLoatch (1-0) yielded just four hits and walked four across five innings of work to grab the victory for Black, while also striking out five batters and yielding a pair of unearned runs. Mason Oppert worked cleanup duty for Black, striking out three and allowing just one hit across two innings. He also surrendered an unearned run.
Thomas Allen (0-1) yielded seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits across just 3-1/3 innings from the hill to take the loss for Black. He also struck out five batters. Brandon McWhirter struck out one in recording two outs in the fourth, and fellow newcomer Brandon Estrain surrendered just one hit in working two scoreless innings.
Gold used a clutch error, as well as run-scoring knocks from Williams and Edgerton, to grab an early 3-0 lead. Black would answer back in a hurry, however, scoring once on a Bridgeman single in the third, before sending 10 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth inning that proved to be the difference.
Black will look for the series sweep on Thursday when the two sides meet again in game three of the Fall World Series at Sammy Cox Field. First pitch has been slated for 2:30 p.m.
2011 BLACK & GOLD FALL WORLD SERIES
Game 1: Black 3, Gold 2 --- BOX SCORE
Game 2: Black 7, Gold 4 --- BOX SCORE
Game 3: Black at Gold, 2:30 p.m.
