Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Needing to win game three by 15 runs to claim the Hokie Fall World Series on Monday evening at English Field, Team Orange fell seven runs short, but did salvage the final contest by defeating Team White 13-5 to avoid the sweep.
Team White won the first two games by a combined 14 runs, so Team Orange needed to cover the deficit in the final game to claim the series. Though that didn’t happen, the Orange did get a solid performance from redshirt senior pitcher Rhett Ballard and an outburst of runs from its offense to earn a win in the Hokies’ final practice of the fall.
Ballard tossed five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and a walk on eight strikeouts to earn the win on the mound, while the Orange bats pounded out 10 hits and combined for seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Steve Domecus and Matt Blow each tallied three RBIs for the victors, while Michael Seaborn added two.
Redshirt senior Randy Buffington took the loss on the mound after allowing five runs (three earned) in three innings and striking out four. Junior Steve Bumbry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the White, including his third home run of the series. Over the three games, Bumbry batted .455 with five RBIs, 15 total bases and four runs scored to earn MVP honors.
Teammates Nate Clark (.556) and Klint Reed (.417) also had productive weekends for the White, while Seaborn (.556) and Domecus (.500) paced the Orange throughout the series.