JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Facing deficits on three occasions, the Blue Team opened up Carson-Newman baseball's Fall World Series with a 7-5 comeback victory over the Orange Club Thursday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
The Orange team started the scoring in the bottom of the second as Mark Treadway (Friendsville, Tenn.) singled to left field to open the inning and was at third base after a wild pitch and a dropped third strike. Charlie Brown (Sevierville, Tenn.) hit into a fielder's choice to bring home Treadway for the game's first run.
Three straight walks with one out loaded the bases for the Orange in the bottom of the fourth. Following a strikeout looking, nine-hole batter Bryce Hanley (Greenback, Tenn.) dug in. The freshman worked the count full before bouncing a single into center field past a diving Micah Genter (Jasper, Tenn.) to score two and push the bulge to 3-0.
Gunnar Ricketts (Hixson, Tenn.) ignited a rally in the top of the fifth for the Blue team launching a 1-1 offering over the 18-foot high fence in left-center field. With two on and one out, Brendan Krob (Justice, Ill.) ripped a double off of the third baseman's glove to bring his side within one. The bases were loaded when Jake Shamblin (Athens, Tenn.) hit into a fielder's choice to tie the score at three.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kilian Daughtry (Simpsonville, S.C.) was at second base with two outs when a little flare to center field was dropped to bring him home and tie the score.
Blue regained the edge in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run single to center field on a 0-2 offering to Malik Kyle (Jefferson City, Tenn.) that plated a pair with one out to put his team ahead 5-4.
Orange once again had the answer in the bottom of the sixth with Henry Jackson (Waxhaw, N.C.) drawing a four-pitch walk to bring home the tying run. The threat ended on a failed attempt to steal home.
Mike Wroth (Chicopee, Mass.) drew a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh. He moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field. Later in the inning, Genter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to stretch the lead to 7-5.
Tyler Thompson (Gallatin, Tenn.) reached base all five times for the Blue side with three hits, two walks and two runs scored. Genter was hit by three pitches and was on base four times. Ricketts scored twice and reached in three of four plate appearances.
Carson Pack (Andersonville, Tenn.) captured the win firing the final 1 1/3 innings of relief with a punch out and not yielding a hit.
Treadway reached base three times for the Orange side scoring twice in the contest. His team was outhit 12-7 while the Blue team stranded 11 on base.
Game two is slated for Friday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. from the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex. There will be an audio broadcast on cneagles.com/live for the contest.
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