Brennon Martin (Courtesy of Memphis Media Relations)
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
For the second consecutive game, it was a Tiger pitcher who garnered Player of the Game recognition as junior lefthander Brennon Martin struck out four and allowed two runs in five innings to lead the Gray squad to a 9-5 win over the Blue in Game 2 of the annual Garibaldi’s Series. The Feds’ win evens the series at 1-1.
The Feds’ bullpen chipped in, in a big way with juco transfer Josh Ross limiting the Zu Crew to two runs on four hits to pick up the win. Ross fanned one and walked two in 2.2 innings
With the knotted at 3-3, Feds’ catcher Shawn Ablett pushed across the go-ahead run and drove Adam McClain in with an RBI-groundout.
From there it was all Gray as the potent lineup erupted for five runs in the seventh to break the game open, 9-3. Senior outfielder Chris Newsom started the rally with a leadoff single and he promptly swiped second. The Blue held up the rally when it was able to throw Newsom out at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Chad Zurcher. However, the Gray kept the bats going on a single by McClain, followed by a two-run triple off the bat of junior Tyler Huelsing. Ahead 6-3, Trey Wiedman drew a walk and Ablett dealt the big blow–a three-run blast–to make it a six-run contest.
The Zu Crew plated single runs in the eighth and ninth, but it was too little, too late in a 9-5 final.
After being held to just four hits in the opening game, the Feds offense woke up and banged out 13 base knocks in Game 2. Included in those 13 hits were three extra base hits. McClain and Ablett both connected for homers and Huelsing legged out a triple. McClain, a redshirt freshman, and Huelsing led the offense with a 3 hits each. Huelsing drove in two, while McClain knocked in one run and added a stolen base. Wiedman went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Ablett drove in four runs and Chase Sain rounded out the Feds’ productive hitters with a 2-for-5 day.
Freshman outfielder Drew Martinez went 3-for-5 to pace the Zu Crew offense efforts. Senior catcher Dan Kaufmann and Heith Hatfield both went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Jacob Wilson banged a hit and stole a base. Freshman pitcher Brandon Showmar took the loss for the Blue squad.
A pair of freshman pitchers are set to battle it out in Game 3 of the fall series on Sat., Nov. 8 at Nat Buring Stadium. Heith Hatfield (Blue) will face Ben Paullus (Gray). First pitch for the nine-inning game is scheduled for 12 p.m.
