Early Offense Allows Orange to Even Series

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After two games, the Orange and Blue World Series is tied at one thanks to a 5-2 victory in seven innings by Orange on Sunday night (Oct. 14). Orange scored all five runs in its first three at bats and limited Blue to five hits.
 
For Orange, senior Cameron Simmons (Royersford, Pa.) drove in the game’s first run on a groundout and finished the night with three-hits and a run scored. Teammate Will Allocca (Richmond, Va.) was 1-for-3 with a triple that plated two runs in the top of the third.
 
Freshman Zach Messinger (Chandler, Ind.) was credited with the win after tossing four innings of four-hit baseball. He allowed two runs and struck out four. The combination of Ben Harris (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Andrew Abbott (Halifax, Va.) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to preserve the win. Harris struck out two in one inning while Abbott fanned three in the final two frames to earn the save.
 
On the Blue side, Brendan Rivoli (Douglasville, Pa.) and Devin Ortiz (Nutley, N.J.) each had two hits. Rivoli is now 4-for-7 with two runs and an RBI in the first two games of the OBWS. Senior Nate Eikhoff (Bristow, Va.) didn’t record an official at bat but reached base twice and was a part in both Blue runs. His sacrifice fly allowed Nic Kent (Gordonsville, Va.) to score in the first inning and Eikhoff later came across on a sacrifice fly by Zack Gelof (Rehoboth Beach, Del.) in the fourth.
 
Senior Chesdin Harrington (Montpelier, VA.) pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball for Blue. He struck out four batters and surrendered four hits. Relievers Grant Donahue (Berlin, Md.) and Kyle Whitten (Manassas, Va.) each pitched clean innings to keep the score at 5-2 late in the game.
 
The Orange and Blue World Series continues with game three on Thursday, Oct. 18. First pitch is slated for 3:15 at Disharoon Park.
 
2018 Orange & Blue World Series Schedule
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 12 – Blue, 8-2
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 14 – Orange, 5-2

Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 18 – 3:15 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 21 – 1 p.m.
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 26 – 6 p.m.
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 28 – 1 p.m.
 
* With the six-game format, a winner of the series will be determined by the following order: 1) the first team to win four games 2) based on overall run differential if the series is tied at three games. All six games will be played, regardless of if the series has been decided.