JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Orange team starting pitcher Quinton Yocom (Cable, Ohio) faced one over the minimum and his squad cranked out 15 hits to give the Orange team a 2-0 series adavnatge with a 7-0 victory Friday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
Yocom hit the first batter he faced before retiring the next 16 batters he faced. A one out single by pinch hitter Brett Hagenow (Knoxville, Tenn.) broke up the no-hitter, but he was promptly doubled up on a slick play by Yocom to end the inning.
Team Orange took the lead in the top of the second inning when freshman first basemen Joe Rotelli (Morganville, N.J.) singled to begin the frame. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, senior catcher J.D. Cowart (Athens, Tenn.) drove a double over the head of the leftfielder to make it a 1-0 contest.
In the top of the fourth stanza, a pair of singles helped the orange unit take a 2-0 advantage. Sophomore third basemen Eric Lynch (Boonton, N.J.) started the inning with a base knock and came into score on a base hit from Cowart.
The Orange squad added to its lead in the top of the fifth inning. Junior third basemen Brandon Roberts (Davie, Fla.) laced a double off the fence in left field to begin the frame. Junior outfielder Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) lined a single to centerfield to make it a 3-0 game. Tipton scored on a double to right field by Lynch.
With one out in the top of the sixth inning, Roberts drew a walk. After a pop out, Rotelli smacked a ball back up the middle to score Roberts and make it 5-0.
Back-to-back singles started the seventh stanza for team Orange. Outfielder Eric Fight (Bloomington, Ill.) lined a double to the gap in right center to plate and a pair finalizing the score at 7-0.
Yocom worked a complete game one hit shutout with eight strikeouts and one hit batter to earn the victory.
Cowart went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored while Roberts went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored to lead the Orange team.
Game three is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
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