IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Black Team smashed three dingers en route to a 7-5 victory in Wednesday’s seven-inning opener of the Black & Gold World Series at Duane Banks Field.
The Black Team jumped on right-hander Reece Beuter early as Ben Swails smashed the first pitch of the game over the left field fence and Connor Hennings ripped an RBI single.
The scoring continued in the second inning when Merrick Mathews hit a solo home run. Freshman Colin Coonradt followed with a double to right center field to drive in Jaixen Frost. Then, a perfectly executed bunt down the third base line from Max Burt and a base on balls by Swails set up a 2 RBI double for Gable Mitchell.
Trailing 6-0 with one out in the second inning, the Gold Team made a pitching change to Will Pearson. He retired the first five batters he faced before Frost hit a dinger off the scoreboard. Liam Roche took over the mound for the Gold Team in the fifth frame and struck out two.
Sam Hart came in for the Gold Team with one out and two runners on in the sixth inning and forced a groundout and strikeout to get out of the jam. Hart finished the game with two punchouts on 31 pitches.
Black Team starting pitcher Aaron Savary had a solid outing, giving up two hits and striking out four over 3 2/3 innings. Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue replaced Savary and recorded three strikeouts.
The Gold Team’s first run came in the second inning thanks to a defensive error. A two-run bomb from Ben Wilmes in the fifth frame cut the Gold Team’s deficit to four. The offense made noise in the sixth inning with a leadoff single from Mitch Wood and a Daniel Rogers hit-by-pitch, but Cadieux-Lanoue retired the next three batters to escape.
Chas Wheatley took over the bump for the Black Team with one gone in the seventh inning. The Gold offense battled until the end, as Caleb Wulf hit a fielders’ choice RBI, and Wood followed with an RBI single to cut the Black Team’s lead to two. Rogers lined out to the shortstop to end the game.
Up Next
The Hawkeyes will host game two of the Black & Gold World Series on Thursday at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., and admission is free.