Sept. 19, 2014 Guttin Previews Fall World Series
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in the opening game of Missouri State's annual Fall World Series Thursday afternoon at Hammons Field, as the White team overcame an early deficit to walk away with a 4-3 victory over the Maroon squad.
Trailing 2-1 entering the home half of the fourth, the White squad erupted for three runs on four hits and a pair of walks to seize control of the contest, then relied on the pitching tandem of Jordan Knutson and Adam Anawalt for 5.0 innings of solid relief to close out the win.
Tate Matheny's leadoff single against Maroon reliever Landan Ruff (0-1) started the key rally, while run-scoring hits from Jackson Walker and Caleb Cowin, as well as a bases-loaded walk to Eduardo Castro put the White team on top, 4-2.
White starter Matt Hall (1-0) earned the victory after holding the Maroons to a pair of runs on four hits over the first 4.0 frames. The junior lefty struck out six and walked just one.
Knutson took over for Hall in the fifth and promptly retired the first six batters he faced before Justin Paulsen's second double of the day started a Maroon rally in the seventh that ultimately sliced the lead to one run.
But Anawalt slammed the door shut, retiring six straight hitters--two via strikeouts--to lock down the White victory and earn the save.
Kyle Reed paced the White team with a 1-for-3 day at the plate that included a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first. He also drew a walk and scored the go-ahead run as part of the critical fourth-inning rally.
Paulsen (2-for-3) doubled and scored twice on the day, thanks in large part to Dylan Becker's 3-for-3 effort behind him in the Maroon lineup. Aaron Meyer also chipped in with a pair of RBI grounders, and Jon Harris fanned five hitters and allowed just one unearned run on one hit over his 3.0 innings of work for the Maroons.
Jake Fromson kept the Maroon club in the game with 3.1 innings of shutout relief, and Sam Perez worked around two walks in a scoreless eighth inning.
MSU's Fall World Series continues Friday (Sept. 19) afternoon with another 3 p.m. first pitch at Hammons Field.
