Oct. 6, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A three-run fourth inning was just enough to deliver a 3-2 Game 2 victory for the White squad Friday and a two games to none lead in Missouri State's annual Maroon and White Fall World Series.

After posting a 7-3 win in the series opener Thursday, the White club took advantage of two errors to post three unearned runs in the pivotal fourth inning Friday. After Hunter Steinmetz reached on an error to start the rally, Matt Dezort drove in the game's first tally with a slicing double to right, then advanced to third on another Maroon miscue to set up Justin Paulsen's sacrifice fly to left that made it a 2-0 contest. Ryan Mantle capped the scoring flurry with a solo home run to stretch the advantage to 3-0.

Jordan Knutson turned in 3.0 scoreless innings to start the day, before four White relievers combined to preserve the lead, allowing just one earned run over the final six frames. Bryan Young earned the save with two hitless innings, making a winner of Nick Brown, who surrendered an unearned run over his inning-and-two-thirds appearance.

Dezort led the White offense, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and the go-ahead RBI, while Mantle logged a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Alex Jefferson provided the bulk of the offense for the Maroon squad, going 2-for-5 and driving in single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Sam Perez tossed 3.0 scoreless innings as the Maroon starter, before Preston Felgate and Jordan Harris combined for five strong innings of relief.

The series resumes with Game 3 Tuesday (Oct. 6), when the two squads square off in another 3 p.m. contest at Hammons Field.