University of North Carolina Athletics
Blue Team Takes First Series On 9-5 Win
October 12, 2011 | Baseball
Oct. 12, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Knotted in a 5-5 tie after five innings the Blue Team exploded for a four-run sixth inning en route to a series-clinching 9-5 win over the White Team Wednesday. The teams will begin the second three game series on Friday at 6 p.m.
The White Team jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first half inning as Blue Team starter Andrew Smith issued four free passes. Seth Baldwin provided the lone hit in the inning when he doubled to left center to plate both runs for the White Team.
The Blue Team answered in the bottom half of the first pushing three runs across on four hits all with two outs. Chaz Frank led off with a single and made his way to third on a stolen base and a groundout before Cody Stubbs singed him home with a shot through the right side.
Following an Adam Griffin single, Brian Holberton stepped in and drove a pitch the opposite way and down the left field line landing just inches from a diving Parks Jordan for a two-run double to put the Blue Team in front 3-2.
After the first two men reached in the top of the second for the White Team Cody Penny came on in relief and coerced a fly out and a double play to escape further trouble.
The Blue team tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third when Cody Stubbs hit the first home run of the Fall World Series when he blasted a Chris O'Brien offering to dead center field. Stubbs' shot came with a runner on after Colin Moran doubled earlier in the inning as the Blue Team extended its lead to 5-2.
The White Team bounced back in the top of the fourth by taking advantage of a two-out error to push across three unearned runs. Shell McCain doubled with two outs in the inning before Michael Russell reached on a throwing error by the shortstop.
With runners at the corners the White Team executed a double steal to cut the deficit to 5-3 before Matt Roberts and Seth Baldwin each tallied RBI singles later in the inning to tie the contest at 5-5.
Cody Penny threw a scoreless fifth and sixth inning to put the Blue Team back up to bat with a chance at the win in the bottom of the sixth.
ack-to-back walks by Brian Holberton and Bradley Morton set the stage for the Blue Team before Mike Zolk sacrificed the pair into scoring position. Shane Taylor came on to face Zac LaNeve and was able to get the strikeout to keep the score knotted at 5-5.
Tate Parrish came back into the contest and plunked Chaz Frank to load the bases before getting Jacob Stallings into a 1-2 count before coming too far inside to plate a run and give the Blue Team a 6-5 lead.
Colin Moran blew the game open with a bases clearing triple over the centerfielder's head to up the lead to 9-5.
Freshman right-hander Mason McCullough came on and threw his second scoreless frame in as many days to give the Blue Team a 9-5 game three win and a series one win.
The teams will do battle again on Friday night when they open the second three game series at 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
