Oct. 11, 2010
Atlanta – Freshmen Mott Hyde and Daniel Palka each had four hits, while Palka added four RBI to lead the Gold squad to a 14-6 win over White in the opener of the 2010 Fall World Series Monday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Due to time and pitching restrictions, the game was shortened to seven innings.
Palka’s four RBIs were a game-high, as he drove in a run with every at-bat Monday. The freshman first baseman had three extra-base hits on the day, and was a triple shy of the cycle.
Sophomore right-hander Clay Dalton picked up the win on the mound for the Gold team, scattering just one run on one hit in four innings of relief. He added four strikeouts in the outing.
Junior sophomore Connor Winn made things look promising for the White team early, as he led the game off with a solo home run to left field of off Gold starter DeAndre Smelter. Winn ended the day with two home runs on a 2-for-4 performance, adding his two RBI.
Down 3-1 in the top of the third, the White team would rally for four runs in the third inning. Senior Jeff Ussery’s single up the middle gave the White team a 5-3 advantage, but the Gold side put things out of reach with eight runs of its own in the bottom frame.
The team batted around for seven hits, two off the bat of Palka, who drove in three of the eight runs with a home run and a double.
Sophomore Luke Bard picked up the loss after surrendering 11 runs – nine earned – on 12 hits in 2 2/3 innings. Bard had one strikeout and two walks.
Gold squad leadoff hitter and centerfielder Kyle Wren chipped in with three hits and two RBI on the afternoon, as the side’s one-through-four hitters combined to go 12-for-16. They drove in eight of the team’s 14 runs.
Sophomore right-hander Buck Farmer will take the mound for the White in game two Tuesday, as he will look to even things up against junior right-hander Mark Pope and the Gold squad. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.
