Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Resuming its annual intrasquad Fall World Series on Wednesday, the Virginia Tech baseball team resolved Monday's suspended Game 1 between Maroon and Orange before settling Game 2 at English Field, setting the stage for Thursday's decisive series finale between the two sides.
FALL WORLD SERIES SCORING
To win the Fall World Series, Maroon or Orange must win at least two of the following three categories: (a) Game 3 score, (b) series run differential and (c) series points. Teams earn one series point for every inning won on the scoreboard. If an inning is tied, no points are awarded and the value of points to be awarded during the next inning increases by one.
In Game 1, Orange defeated Maroon, 9-7, despite Maroon controlling the 5-2 lead in series points. Orange then prevailed, 5-2, during Game 2 with both teams earning three series points apiece.
Entering Game 3, Orange holds the +5 advantage in run differential while Maroon leads the series points tally, 8-5.
GAME 1
After a 46-hour, 17-minute weather-and-practice-day delay that had started on Monday, Game 1 resumed in the top of the seventh inning with Orange batting and leading Maroon in the game, 6-3.
Completing his suspended at-bat, grad transfer Eduardo Malinowski (Pennsylvania) connected on an RBI triple to keep Orange's two-out rally alive. Two batters later, rookie infielder Scott McDonough (Henrico, Virginia) followed with a two-RBI single, capping Orange's seven-run frame that extended its game lead to 9-3.
Narrowing the gap in run differential, Maroon rallied behind leadoff singles by senior Conor Hartigan (James Madison) and third-year outfielder Gavin Cross to plate four runs during the bottom of the seventh inning. Maroon introduced the game's tying run in sophomore infielder Tanner Schobel, who flied out to center field as the final act of Orange's 9-7 victory.
GAME 2
Picking up where it left off in Game 1, Orange struck for three early runs during the bottom of the first inning in Game 2. With sophomore Jack Hurley aboard, rookie infielder Christian Martin (Amherst, Virginia) stroked an RBI triple, later scoring on Malinowski's two-run home run.
Receiving two scoreless innings from sophomore right-hander Jackson Ritchey, Orange carried its 3-0 lead into the top of the third inning, where Schobel clubbed a 409-foot, solo home run that put Maroon on the board. Third-year right-hander Noah Johnson proceeded to shut the door on Orange during the inning's bottom half, banking two key series points for Maroon.
Orange extended its game lead to 5-1 during the bottom of the fifth inning as McDonough delivered an RBI triple to right field, scoring freshman infielder Carson DeMartini (Virginia Beach, Virginia). McDonough proceeded to score on a passed ball as Orange celebrated two series points.
Sophomore infielder Sam Tackett opened the sixth inning for Maroon with a double to left field, coming around to score after back-to-back infield grounders. Third-year left-hander Henry Weycker managed to hold off Orange during the bottom of the sixth inning, allowing Maroon to claim its third series point of the game.
Senior left-hander Sean Fisher (Maryland) struck out two batters during an inning of relief for Orange before Malinowski wrapped up his two-for-four day with a triple to right field.
UP NEXT
Orange and Maroon will contest the decisive Game 3 of the Fall World Series on Thursday, Oct. 28. Fans are encouraged to follow @HokiesBaseball on Twitter to learn the latest information on start times.