Brandon Haveman
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
– An outstanding pitching performance by freshman starter Ryan Baker wasn’t enough, as the Gold squad dropped a 5-1 decision to Team Black in the third game of the best-of-five Gold and Black Series at Lambert Field on Sunday.
The Black victory, coupled with a 10-2 win in the opener and a 5-4 win in game two, ensured a series victory for the Black squad.
Staked to an early 1-0 lead, Baker was outstanding for Team Gold, carrying a no-hitter through the first four innings.
In the fifth, the left-hander saw his no-no bid come to an end on a leadoff single. He settled down with a strikeout to the next batter, but saw an elevated pitch count spoil his day after another single placed two men on with one out.
Reliever Brian Cooley entered and couldn’t control the damage, issuing a walk to load the bases and a sacrifice fly off the bat of John Cummins to tie the game at 1-1. David Blount followed with a single to center to put Team Black up by a run.
The visiting Black squad tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to wrap up the B&GS title.
On the other side of the mound, Black starter Blake Mascarello (1-0) overcame a rough opening to collect the win. The left-hander gave up a run on three hits in the first two innings, but stifled the Gold bats over the next three innings for a finishing line of one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out two.
Reliever Emilio Domondon continued the black magic pitching over the Gold offense, allowing just one hit over the next 3 1/3 innings, and right-hander Mark Kovacevic recorded the final two outs in the ninth to wrap up the victory.
Gold’s Baker (0-1) was charged with the hard-luck loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two.
Offensively, Black senior Brandon Haveman continued his fall tear at the plate, finishing Sunday’s contest 3 for 5 with a run scored. In three games thus far he is batting .571 (8 for 14) with a double, two triples, an RBI and three runs scored.
Other offensive standouts on Sunday for Team Black were Blount’s 2 for 5 day, which included the game-winning single in the fifth, and a two-hit day by Dominick D’Agata.
The Gold team’s Cory Bifoss doubled and scored the only run of the day for his squad, while Chris Antonelli added the lone RBI on a single in the second inning.
Despite the ensured series victory by Team Black, the Black and Gold Series will continue on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Both games will be held at 4 p.m. at Lambert Field. Admission is free.
Score by Innings R H E
———————————————-
Black………….. 000 020 021 – 5 10 1
Gold…………… 200 000 000 – 1 5 2
———————————————-
WP: Mascarello (1-0)
SV: None
LP: Baker (0-1)
HR: None
Black and Gold Series Schedule/Results
Wednesday, October 1 – Team Black, 10-2
Friday, October 3 – Team Black, 5-4
Sunday, October 5 – Team Black, 5-1
Tuesday, October 7 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 9 – 4 p.m.
All games will be held at Lambert Field and are free to the public.
Standard NCAA rules apply for each of the nine-inning games.
