Explosive Bats Give Team Gold A 6-4 Win Over Purple
October 25, 2015 | Baseball
SEATTLE – Despite a late rally from Team Purple, the Gold Squad was able to hold onto their lead, securing a 6-4 win and a 2-0 lead in the four-game Purple and Gold World Series.
Starting Gold pitcher Noah Bremer gave up one run on two hits with two strikeouts to earn the win.
Freshman third basemen Peyton Lactose started the scoring for Team Gold with a two-out, solo home run in the second inning off Purple starting pitcher Joe DeMers. It was the only run allowed by the freshman over four innings as he allowed three hits.
Gold held onto their lead until the fourth inning when Purple CF Jack Meggs blasted a home run over the right field fence to tie the game. That would be the only run for the Purple squad until the sixth inning as Alex Nesbitt retired all six hitters he faced in the fifth and sixth.
Lefty Channing Nesbitt came in to replace DeMers in the fifth inning and after a hit batter and a walk, Westin Wuethrich relieved Nesbitt. After a sacrafice bunt, AJ Graffanino brought home the go-ahead run with a RBI single to centerfield. Wuethrich got out of the inning catching Graffanino taking a lead off first base.
Offensively, the Gold Squad bats erupted for three runs in the sixth inning. Gold left fielder Josh Cushing reached base after being hit by a pitch and Alex Galgano hit a double down the left field line to score Cushing from first. Right fielder Slate Miller and second baseman Levi Jordan would add RBI singles to make the score 5-1.
In the top of the seventh, Gold tallied three more hits and added on another run, taking their lead to 6-1. A walk and two singles loaded the bases for MacIver who hit a single into right field to score first baseman Gage Matuzsak.
Team Purple came out swinging in the bottom of the inning looking for a late rally. With one out, right fielder MJ Hubbs launched a ball over the left field wall for a solo home run. John Naff was hit by a pitch and came around to score on catcher Joey Morgan's home run, a shot over the left field wall.
Greg Minier came in to close the game for Gold. He walked a batter, but got back-to-back flyouts to strand the runners and earn the save.
Both teams return for game three of the series on Monday at 3:30 at Husky Ballpark.
Gold 6, Purple 4
GOLD 010 013 1 –- 6 11 0
PURP 000 100 3 –- 4 4 0
GOLD: Noah Bremer, Alex Nesbitt (5), Josh Fitch (7), Minier (7) and Willie MacIver; PURPLE: Joe DeMers, Channing Nesbitt (5), Westin Wuethrich (5), Adam Davenport (6), and Joey Morgan. W – Bremer. L – C. Nesbitt. Sv – Minier. HR – Gold; Peyton Lacoste, Purple; Jack Meggs, MJ Hubbs, Joey Morgan. 3B – none. 2B – Gold; Alex Galgano, Purple; Morgan.
