COLUMBIA, Mo. - Black Team starter Brandon Baker (Lithonia, Ga.) was lights out, fanning five and allowing only two hits over six innings as he led his team to a 1-0 win in game two of the Fall World Series on Friday night (Oct. 10) at Taylor Stadium. Only Alex Del Rio (Munster, Ind.) was able to solve Baker, claiming both Gold hits against the sophomore southpaw. Overall, the Black team held Gold to just four hits on the day.
The Black squad's offense came in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a leadoff single followed by a double down the left field line by Chris Akmon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) for the game's winning run. That score handed Jace James (Oklahoma City, Okla.) the loss, though the senior had a strong four innings on the mound with four strikeouts and four hits.
Both starters tossed a scoreless first, with Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) working around two two-out singles and Baker retiring Team Gold 1-2-3. The teams traded scoreless frames through the next two innings, and Team Black appeared poised to take the lead with two on and one out against James in the fourth. The senior responded well, though, striking a batter out and inducing a flyout to leave the inning unharmed, stranding both runners.
Black jumped on top in the fifth inning after Baker struck out the side in the fourth, taking advantage of an Akmon double down the line in left to score Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) from first for a 1-0 lead. Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) took over on the bump in the sixth for the Gold squad, tossing a scoreless frame. The Gold team had its chance to score in the sixth, turning a Del Rio single into a runner-on-third, two-out situation, but he was thrown out at the dish trying to steal home, keeping the score 1-0 Black through six innings.
Alec Rash (Adel, Iowa) replaced Tribby in the seventh, tossing another scoreless inning. The Gold team caught a break as Howard botched a ground ball at short, allowing Bond to reach on error and then swipe second with no outs. He was left stranded at third, though, as Liam Carter (Highland Park, Ill.) was able to pitch out of the jam.
Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.) pitched the ninth inning for the Gold team, tossing a scoreless frame. Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) held Gold off the board in the game's final frame, giving Black the win.
For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) or check in to MUTigers.com.