BLACKSBURG - Team Stop Bullying used a three-run fifth frame to break a 1-1 tie, then added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to claim a 6-3 victory over Team Autism Awareness in Game 1 of the 2013 Virginia Tech baseball Fall World Series held at English Field Tuesday night.
Sophomore Sean Kennedy picked up the win for TSB as he went five-plus innings, allowed just two runs on two hits and struck out seven. Junior transfer Justin Kelly threw the final 1.2 innings out of the pen, allowing two hits and striking out three to earn the save.
Redshirt freshman Saige Jenco broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth with a bases-loaded, two-run double and freshman Ricky Surum put TSB up 4-1 with an RBI single.
TAA answered with a two-run bottom of the sixth with RBI singles from sophomore Kyle Bynum and junior Brendon Hayden to cut its deficit to 4-3 with just one out and the bases loaded.
However, Kelly finished the frame with a fielder's choice force out at the plate and a strikeout and, after allowing the first two batters to reach in the seventh, closed the door with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Jenco was the only player for TSB with a pair of hits, while junior Mark Zagunis had two hits including a double for TAA. Freshman Mac Caples had the only other extra-base hit, a triple, for TAA.
Freshman Andrew McDonald went 4.2 innings for TAA, allowing three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts, but took the loss.
Game 2 of the Fall World Series is now scheduled for Thursday night at English Field with first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m. This is a change due to the weather that is expected to come into the area this evening.
***As released earlier, rather than split into the traditional school colors for the game, the Hokies decided to bring attention to two worthy causes and named their squads – Team Autism Awareness and Team Stop Bullying. The teams are wearing special shirts (as can be seen in the image above) in honor of each cause.
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