University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Home Runs Power White to 12-6 Victory Over Orange
October 19, 2008 | Baseball
Oct. 19, 2008
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A five-run first inning and five home runs powered the White team to a 12-6 victory over the Orange team in the third game of the Tennessee Baseball Orange & White World Series on Sunday afternoon at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Orange team still holds a 2-1 series lead. The series continues next weekend with games scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is free to both contests.
"The team came out sluggish, but we turned it on and really swung the bats well," White team coach Bradley LeCroy said. "Steven Gruver, after the first inning, really settled in and did a great job, and then all of the relievers came in and did what they had to do with a big lead."
The Orange team got on the board first when left fielder Jarred Frazier hit the first pitch he saw from starting pitcher Steven Gruver over the center field wall for a two-run home run, scoring P.J. Polk.
After allowing the two first-inning runs, White starting pitcher Gruver settled down and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits while walking three.
The White team responded in the home half of the first inning with five runs of its own.
LeCroy said the five-run first inning was important for a team that opened the series with back-to-back losses.
"It was big," LeCroy said. "Both games we have lost have been close games and we could have easily folded after getting down 2-0, but the guys came back, relaxed and swung the bats really well today."
Third baseman Cody Hawn drove in the White team's first run with a single to right field that scored shortstop Mike Hornsby from second. The White team tied the game at 2 when Charley Thurber singled scoring Kentrail Davis. Davis finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Gary Wilson had the big blow of the inning, a three-run home run to left field, giving the White team a 5-2 lead, which they would not give back. First-year Vols Hawn and Thurber scored on the home run.
The White team extended its lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the third inning when Thurber hit a two-home run over the scoreboard in right field. Davis, who reached on a single to lead off the inning, scored on the home run.
First baseman Mike Moore kept the inning going with an RBI single to center field scoring second baseman Gary Wilson, who previously reached on a single to right field, making the score 8-2.
Orange Team coach Fred Corral then called on his bullpen to end the inning for his team, bringing in redshirt freshman Dylan Hochevar. The first-year Vol got shortstop Mike Hornsby to pop up to second, ending the inning.
Also seeing action out of the Orange team bullpen were Joey Rosas, Davis Hall, Stephen McCray and Matt Ramsey.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Davis and Hawn increased the White team's lead to eight runs with back-to-back home runs--Davis' to deep right-center field, and Hawn's to left field.
Right fielder Josh Liles hit the White team's fifth home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 11-2.
The Orange team got back on the board with Blake Forsythe's solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to trim the deficit to 11-3. The teams combined for a total of seven home runs in the game.
The White team completed its scoring when Gary Wilson came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mike Moore, bringing the score to 12-3. Wilson doubled off the right field wall before advancing to third on a single by designated hitter Andy Shuford.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Orange team rallied to score three runs and reduced its deficit to 12-6. Frazier's bases loaded singled scored Ramsey, second baseman Cody Grisham and P.J. Polk who all reached via walks. Frazier finished the day 2-for-5 with five RBI and one run scored.
Senior Danny Wiltz pitched the top of the ninth for the White team, allowing just one hit and no runs. Wiltz, Ty'Relle Harris, Hunter Daniel, Ryne Simpson, Mason Forbis and Will Locante combined to throw five innings out of the bullpen.
