Orange Wins Second Series to Force Deciding Game 5
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Orange team picked up a 6-1 win Saturday in Game 4 of the Orange and Blue World Series at Davenport Field to win the second two-game series and knot the OBWS at a series apiece. The Blue team won 3-2 in 11 innings on Friday night, but the Orange claimed the second two-game series by virtue of run differential.
The Blue won the first two games of the OBWS to take the first series. The teams will play the deciding game of the 5-game series at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Prior to the start of Game 3, the UVa baseball program held a celebration to honor the 2011 team and present members of that team with their ACC Championship/College World Series rings. A large crowd gathered for the ceremonies Friday evening.
Chace Mitchell smacked a 2-run home run to highlight the Orange’s outing Saturday. Stephen Bruno added three hits for the Orange. The Orange scored two runs in the second, fourth and eighth innings.
Keith Werman and Nate Irving each had two hits for the Blue, which finished with eight hits.
The Orange’s pitching staff had its shutout bid broken up in the ninth inning. Starter Kyle Crockett worked six shutout innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four. Austin Young and Nathaniel Abel each tossed a shutout inning out of the bullpen before Barrett O’Neill tossed the ninth inning to wrap up the game.
Brett Lisle made the Game 4 start for the Blue and allowed four earned runs and four hits in 3.1 innings.
The teams played a nip-and-tuck contest dominated by the pitchers in Game 3. The starting pitchers were particularly strong – Branden Kline worked 5.2 innings for the Blue, allowing a run, four hits and a walk while fanning five. Whit Mayberry fired 5.0 innings for the Orange, allowing a run, five hits and a walk while striking out eight. The Blue staff gave up just five hits in the game.
Ryan Ashooh earned the win for the Blue after tossing a scoreless 11th inning. O’Neill was credited with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 11th.
Nick Howard, Shane Halley, Mark Podlas and Irving each had two hits for the Blue, while Branden Cogswell picked up two hits for the Orange.
The Blue scored first in the second inning on a Podlas infield single to plate Shane Halley. The Orange scored the tying run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Gragnani.
The teams exchanged runs in the eighth inning. In the top of the eighth, Ryan Briggs reached on an error to lead off the inning. He moved to second on a groundout, then scored on Cogwell’s single up the middle. The Blue came right back in the bottom of the inning, as Derek Fisher walked with one out, advanced on a wild pitch, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a Howard single to center.
The Blue loaded the bases with none out in the 11th, and Kenny Towns provided the winning blow, a single up the middle through the drawn-in infield.
2011 Orange and Blue World Series
Game 1: Blue 8, Orange 7 (10 innings)
Game 2: Blue 4, Orange 1
Game 3: Blue 3, Orange 2 (11 innings)
Game 4: Orange 6, Blue 1
Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 16, 4 p.m.