Summers' Walk-Off Single In Extras Gives Gold Team Series Lead In Kent State Baseball's World Series
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Blue Team looks to extend series Sunday.
KENT, Ohio -- Â Redshirt sophomore infielder Troy Summers (Minerva, Ohio) smacked a walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Gold Team to a 4-3 victory over the Blue Team in game three of the best-of-five Kent State baseball program's World Series Friday (Oct. 14) at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.
The Gold took a 2-1 series lead over the Blue courtesy of the extra-innings victory.
With the contest knotted at three-all headed into the bottom of the eighth, junior catcher Jason Bagoly (Austintown, Ohio) put Gold's drive for victory in motion by coaxing a one-out walk. Freshman infielder Sawyer Polen (Wooster, Ohio) followed with a base hit. Freshman outfielder Alex Miklos (Grove City, Pa.) drew a walk to fill the bases and set the stage for Summers' game-winning hit that scored Bagoly.
The Blue jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second when senior catcher David Lyon (Emporium, Pa.) singled and then scored on a base hit by redshirt sophomore first baseman Cody Koch (Sandusky, Ohio).
The Gold struck back with two runs in the bottom of the frame as Miklos cracked an RBI double to score Bagoly and an RBI fielder's choice by freshman catcher Jeff Revesz (Grove City, Ohio) plated Polen.
Junior infielder George Roberts (Summerhill, Pa.) crushed a solo home run over the wall in left center field to extend Gold's lead to 3-1 in the third.
The Blue Team did not quit, though, cutting Gold's lead to 3-2 in the fourth courtesy of a solo blast by senior infielder Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.), then tying the game in the fifth as freshman outfielder Jacob Neuschaefer (Elyria, Ohio) led off the frame with a bunt single and later scored on an RBI groundout by Rider.
Junior right-handed relief pitcher Casey Wilson (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) earned the mound victory for the Gold, tossing two scoreless frames. Sophomore right-handed starter Dan Slavik (Saint Clairsville, Ohio) pitched the first four frames, striking out one. Freshman southpaw Brian Clark (Munroe Falls, Ohio) fanned one over two relief innings.
Redshirt freshman righty Dan Kopcak (Streetsboro, Ohio) took the pitching loss for the Blue. Redshirt freshman right-handed starter Eric Dorsch (Gibsonia, Pa.) struck out one over three innings of work. Freshman lefty Tim Faix (Strongsville, Ohio) pitched two scoreless innings, and freshman righty John Birkbeck (Canton, Ohio) followed with two strikeouts over two perfect innings.
The Blue Team looks to stay alive Sunday (Oct. 14) game four. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Skulina (Strongsville, Ohio) takes the ball for the Blue and will oppose sophomore righty Spencer Bryant (Sandusky, Ohio) of the Gold Team. First pitch is scheduled for noon. Kent State's Parents' Day Picnic and 2011 Mid-American Conference Championship Ring Ceremony will follow the game.
