COLUMBIA, Mo. - Game One of Mizzou baseball's Fall World Series featured strong showings from pitching newcomers as Ryan Lee (Grandview, Mo.) led Team Black to a 3-2 victory on Wednesday (Oct. 8) night at Taylor Stadium. Lee pitched into the fifth inning, finishing with 4.2 innings and scattering five hits, allowing two earned runs. Team Gold starter Lake Dabney (Driftwood, Texas) threw 4.1 innings in the contest, allowing three earned runs on four hits. Nolan Gromacki (Smithville, Mo.) also had a strong performance for Team Gold, tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The offense for Team Black came via the long ball, as Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) and Jake Ivory (St. Charles, Mo.) each homered to left field, supplying all three runs on those two swings. Team Gold took advantage of small ball as Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) and Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) each brought in runs on productive outs. Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) finished with two hits for Team Gold, including a leadoff double in the fourth inning.
After both teams couldn't put runners aboard in the first, Chris Akmon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) singled with one out in the second for the Black team, left stranded at third after swiping two bases. Harris singled for Team Gold in the bottom of the frame, though he was left at first. Team Black jumped on top in the next inning, taking a 2-0 lead as Howard launched a homer into the bullpen in left, also scoring Logan Bone (Festus, Mo.). Gold answered right back, pushing a run across as the home squad took advantage of Ring leadoff single to cut the lead in half.
It didn't take long for Black to respond, though, as Ivory sent a solo shot over the wall in left to give the visiting team a 3-1 lead. Harris doubled to lead off the bottom of the frame, scoring on a Ring bunt to again reduce the deficit to one run. Dabney was pulled in the fifth inning with two Black baserunners on and one out in favor of Gromacki, and the freshman reliever escaped the jam with two straight outs. Lee also couldn't battle out of the fifth Inning, as he got the hook with two on and two outs, giving way to John Miles (Columbia, Mo.) who got out of the inning unscathed.
Team Gold attempted to mount a rally in the final frame, as Jerry Houston (Dolton, Ill.) wore a pitch to lead off, but a flyout and double play ended the game, giving Team Black a 1-0 series lead.
The Fall World Series continues Friday (Oct. 10) night at 6 p.m. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) or check in to MUTigers.com.