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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Blue team rallied from a six-run deficit in the sixth inning to score a 10-9 victory over the Orange team on Tuesday night in Game 7 of the Orange and Blue World Series at Davenport Field. David Coleman launched a double high off the wall in deep right-center field to score John Hicks from first base with the winning run in the ninth inning.

With the win, the Blue avoids a seven-game sweep at the hands of the Orange. Corey Hunt pitched three strong innings of relief to earn the win for the Blue. Kevin Arico was credited with the loss after allowing the ninth-inning run.

Orange starting pitcher Robert Morey pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs, three hits and four walks while striking out two. He had a strong series, going 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in three appearances.

The Blue, held to 12 hits in the previous two games, busted loose for 13 knocks on Tuesday. Hicks, who moved from the Orange team for this game, went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBI. Coleman, Rob Amaro and Phil Gosselin each had a pair of hits.

Kenny Swab went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI for the Orange. Jared King tripled twice as part of a 2-for-4, three-RBI effort. Tyler Biddix and Ryan Levine each added two hits for the Orange.

The Blue scored twice in the first on RBI singles by Hicks and Amaro, but the Orange responded with eight runs over the next five innings to take an 8-2 lead, highlighted by a mammoth third-inning home run by Swab which landed in the trees in deep left-center field. The Blue mounted a comeback in the sixth inning with five runs to cut the lead to 8-7, then tied the game in the seventh on a Hicks RBI triple to score Gosselin.

The Orange grabbed the lead back in the eighth on a Biddix RBI single, but again the Blue tied the game in its half of the inning on a Reed Gragnani run-scoring single.

After Hunt retired the Orange in order in the top of the ninth, the Blue got a one-out single from Hicks. Coleman then crushed an Arico offering to one of the deepest parts of the park in right-center and Hicks easily beat the relay throw to give the Blue the win.

The Orange hit .344 as a team in the series, led by Ryan Levine (.435), Shane Halley (.429) and Jarrett Parker (.412). Tyler Biddix hit .385 with an OBWS-high nine RBI, while Chris Taylor hit .375 with seven RBI and seven runs. On the mound, Will Roberts led the team with a 1.80 ERA, followed by Morey (2.38) and Chad O’Connor (2.79).

The Blue hit .273 as a team and was led by Amaro with a .391 average, seven RBI and nine hits. Danny Hultzen also had nine hits and batted .375, while Coleman batted .364. On the mound, Hunt finished with a team-best 2.16 ERA in four relief outings, while Hultzen had a 2.70 ERA in two appearances.

Virginia opens the 2010 season on Feb. 19 at East Carolina. The Cavaliers start their home schedule on Feb. 24 vs. George Washington.

Orange & Blue World Series
Game 1:
Orange 7, Blue 4
Game 2: Orange 9, Blue 2
Game 3: Orange 6, Blue 5 (Orange wins first series, 3-0)
Game 4: Orange 3, Blue 2
Game 5: Orange 3, Blue 2, 8 inn.
Game 6: Orange 18, Blue 3, 7 inn. (Orange clinches OBWS)
Game 7: Blue 10, Orange 9

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