Orange Rallies to Top Blue in Game 1, 5-4

Story Links

Oct. 2, 2013

Box Score | Twitter | Coach O’Connor Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Nate Irving (Jr., Yonkers, N.Y.) hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning to rally the Orange team to a 5-4 victory over the Blue team Tuesday afternoon in game 1 of the 2013 Orange & Blue World Series at Davenport Field.

Robbie Coman (So., Lake Worth, Fla.) led a balanced Orange attack with three hits. Four others, including Irving, recorded a pair of hits each for the Orange, which finished with a dozen hits.

Freshman Matt Thaiss (Jackson, N.J.) racked up three hits, inclduing a pair of doubles, for the Blue team. John La Prise (So., Exton, Pa.) and Daniel Pinero (Fr., Toronto, Ontario) each added two hits.

Kevin Doherty (So., Laytonsville, Md.) picked up the win after tossing 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just an unearned run and two hits. Austin Young (Sr., Mechanicsville, Va.) tossed a perfect ninth to earn the save. David Rosenberger (So., Bethlehem, Pa.) took the loss after allowing a pair of runs in 1 2/3 innings.

The Blue scored a run in the first when Thaiss hit a two-out RBI double to score La Prise from first base.

The Orange countered by scoring a run in each of its first three innings. In the first Coman hit a high chopper on the infield for a single, plating Tony Butler (Fr., Sun Prairie, Wis.). The Orange added a run in the second on a Branden Cogswell (Jr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.) RBI single and another in the third on a Rob Bennie (So., Stroudsburg, Pa.) sacrifice fly.

The Blue tied the game in the fifth. La Prise scored when Nick Howard (Jr., Olney, Md.) hit into a double play with the bases loaded, and Pinero hit the first pitch from Doherty to left field for an RBI single.

The Blue team moved ahead in the sixth on a Brandon Downes (Jr., South Plainfield, N.J.) sacrifice fly off Doherty.

The Orange team put together a two-out rally in the eighth. Derek Fisher (Jr., Rexmont, Pa.) started things with a triple to center, and after Coman walked and stole second, Irving singled to right to score both runners.

The series continues at 6 p.m. Friday. Nathan Kirby (So., Midlothian, Va.) is slated to start on the mound for the Orange team; he will be opposed by freshman Connor Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) for the Blue.

Orange & Blue World Series Format
There will be a pair of three-game series (Games 1-3 and Games 4-6 are separate series) as well as a Game 7. If a given team wins both games of either series, the third game of that series will be played based on run differential of the first two games to allow the trailing team a chance to still win the series. Each team is encouraged to score as many runs as possible and not worry about running up the score.

There is no admission charge for Orange and Blue World Series games and all seating is general admission. Free parking will be available in the University Hall lot. Fans should plan to enter Davenport Field for all fall games along the first-base line and not the main gate. The best route to reach this entrance is by using the Copeley Road crosswalk, the sidewalk and the road adjacent to the Lannigan Field track complex.

Concession and merchandise stands also will be open.

Orange & Blue World Series Schedule
Game 1: Orange 5, Blue 4
Game 2: Fri., Oct. 4, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., Oct. 6, 1 p.m.
—-
Game 4: Tue., Oct. 8, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Tue., Oct. 15, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Fri., Oct. 18, 6 p.m.
—-
Game 7: Sun., Oct. 20, 1 p.m.