BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Team Red rallied with a pair of runs in the eighth inning to secure a 5-4 win on Sunday, claiming the Fall World Series title after four games.
A game after racking up 11 hits, red continued its hot hitting with 10 hits in Game 4 to secure the victory. Freshman RHP Evan Acosta was credited with the win as he tossed a scoreless eighth inning after Team Red regained the lead in the top half of the frame. Junior closer Ben Morrison picked up his third save of the series as he was again spotless in the ninth to finish the game.
Team Black held a 4-3 lead heading into the important eighth inning after Leiff Clarkson and Danny Hudzina both scored in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Harrison Scanlon drew a walk to bring home Clarkson, followed by Grant Malott bringing home Hudzina on a hit by pitch. Clarkson also drove in a run in the third with a triple before later scoring in that inning.
After a lead-off walk by Chris Rogers, sophomore Connor McHugh smacked a triple in the gap to tie up the ballgame in the eighth. Freshman Brandon Pollock would give red the lead for good as he chopped a single over the third baseman to bring home McHugh for the winning run of the series. Thomas Peter had another solid game for Team Red, going 2-for-4 with a RBI double in the opening inning.
Senior RHP Josh Bartley got the start for red, surrendering two runs on three hits to go with three strikeouts in four innings pitched. John Harman was the first out of the bullpen as he registered seven strikeouts in three innings of relief. Team Black gave the ball to senior Austin King (4.0 IP, 2 R, 5 K), with Jackson Sowell, Sam Higgs and Ryan Thurston all making appearances on the mound.
Although Team Red clinched the series, Game 5 will still be played Monday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nick Denes Field. Black will throw RHP Cody Coll against red's RHP Kevin Elder in a rematch from Game 2 for the series finale.
