Oct. 13, 2010
ATLANTA – Four different players had multiple hits, and the Georgia Tech Gold team (3-0) held on to an early lead to clinch the White and Gold World Series with a 6-3 victory over the white squad (0-3) Wednesday at Russ Chandler Stadium. The series will conclude Friday at 4 p.m.
Daniel Palka (2-for-3), Zane Evans (2-for-2), Alex Crux (2-for-3) and Colby Wren (2-for-3) all had two hits apiece for the Gold squad, while Evans and Cruz each knocked in runs on Wednesday. The four freshmen accounted for eight of the team’s 10 hits.
A single by Palka and double by Evans off White team starter Matt Grimes started things off for the Gold in the second inning, before DeAndre Smelter opened the scoring with a sac fly to right field for a 1-0 lead. Cruz would single through the left side on the next at-bat to extend the lead to two runs.
Gold starter Taylor Wood allowed just one run in his four-inning outing on the day, an RBI-single to by White first baseman Jake Davies in the third frame. Wood picked up the win after allowing just five hits through the four frames. He tallied three strikeouts.
The Gold team extended the lead to 5-1 with two more runs in the fifth, one on a single to second base by Palka, and another on a wild pitch by White team reliever Jonathan Roberts. The team added its final run an inning later as Kyle Wren’s fielder’s choice RBI brought home Cruz from third.
Senior Jeff Ussery hit the game’s only home run, a two-run shot for the White side in the top of the seventh off of Brad Markey. Ussery was 2-for-3 on the day, adding a double to his round-tripper.
Grimes, who allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings, was the losing pitcher of record. He had four strikeouts.
The series concludes with the fourth and final game on Friday at Russ Chandler Stadium. Freshman lefty Will West (White) will face right-hander Dusty Isaacs (Gold) in the 4 p.m. exhibition.
