Oct. 7, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Using a five-run outburst in the opening inning, the Maroon squad notched its first win of the Bears' annual Maroon and White Fall World Series with a 9-6 decision Tuesday afternoon at Hammons Field.

Freshman infielder Jordan Hovey spearheaded the Maroon attack, going 2-for-4 with a bases-clearing triple and a two-run homer, while two more MSU newcomers -- Jordan Harris and John Privitera -- also added two-hit efforts for the victors.

After tallying just five combined runs over the first two games of the series, it took the Maroon club just one-half inning to match that production in Game 3, as a two-run single by Harris and a two-out, three-run triple by Hovey ignited the offensive fireworks for an early 5-0 cushion.

The White squad replied with a two-run first of its own, using an RBI groundout by Aaron Meyer and a solo blast by Justin Paulsen. Jeremy Eierman then led off the home half of the second with a home run to right to slice the lead to two runs.

But a pair of walks in the third led to the sixth Maroon run, as Caleb Essick delivered a clutch two-out single to score Ben Whetstone.

Two innings later, it would be Hovey striking a second key blow to help stretch the margin to 9-3. After Matt Fultz led off the inning with a line-drive single to right-center and Danny Rowley doubled him home with a double to left, Hovey launched a two-run shot to right to give his club all the offense it would need.

An eighth-inning run for White would make it a five-run game, and Hunter Steinmetz's one-out double sparked a two-run rally in the ninth that would ultimately see the tying run reach first base. But Alex Jefferson came up with a diving catch in center on a Matt Dezort liner, and Sam Perez struck out Eduardo Castro on a full-count offering to preserve the victory.

Jake Lochner earned the victory for the Maroon squad, while Austin Knight and Jefferson each worked two scoreless innings of relief.

Meyer paced the White offense, going 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Paulsen and Steinmetz also contributed two-hit games for the White club.

The series resumes with Game 4 Friday (Oct. 9) at 3 p.m., followed by Saturday's Game 5, which has been moved to a Noon first pitch.