Hokie ClubNeeding to win game three by 15 runs to claim the Hokie FallWorld Series on Monday evening at English Field, Team Orange fell seven runsshort, but did salvage the final contest by defeating Team White 13-5 to avoidthe sweep.
Team White won the first two games by a combined 14 runs, soTeam Orange needed to cover the deficit in the final game to claim the series. Thoughthat didn’t happen, the Orangedid get a solid performance from redshirt senior pitcher Rhett Ballard and anoutburst of runs from its offense to earn a win in the Hokies’ final practiceof the fall.
Ballard tossed five scoreless innings and allowed just twohits and a walk on eight strikeouts to earn the win on the mound, while the Orange bats pounded out 10 hits and combined for sevenruns in the fifth and sixth innings. Steve Domecus and Matt Blow each talliedthree RBIs for the victors, while Michael Seaborn added two.
Redshirt senior Randy Buffington took the loss on the moundafter 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 histhird home run of the series. Over the three games, Bumbry batted .455 withfive RBIs, 15 total bases and four runs scored to earn MVP honors.
Teammates Nate Clark (.556) and Klint Reed (.417) also hadproductive weekends for the White, while Seaborn (.556) and Domecus (.500)paced the Orangethroughout the series.
A box score of game three is available here.
Series stats for Team Orange are here, and stats for Team White are here.