The University of Akron Athletics
Gold Completes Sweep of Blue in Fall World Series
October 10 | Baseball
(Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) threw 6.2 strong
innings and Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) keyed a
five-run fifth to lead the Gold team to a 5-3 victory over the Blue
Wednesday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field. With the seven-inning
decision, the Gold completed a three-game sweep in the best-of-five
intrasquad Fall World Series.
Danziger turned in the second straight impressive start for the
Gold team by limiting the Blue team to just one run on four hits
through the first six frames. The right-hander fell one out short
of a complete-game victory in the seventh when the Blue team scored
twice and put runners on first and second. But reliever Chris
Bassitt (Curtice, Ohio/Genoa Area) struck out the final batter
of the game to end the threat and complete the sweep for the Gold
team.
Both starters pitched well early on as the game was scoreless
through the first three innings. Blue team starter Danny
Fawcett (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) faced just one above
the minimum through the first three frames and kept the Gold off
the board through the first four.
The Blue team took its first lead of the series in the fourth
inning when Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Stow/Ball State)
drove in Nick Solitario (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth), who
led off with a double to left, with a ground ball to short.
But the Gold team came roaring back with five runs in the following
frame. Ryan Frazee (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville North)
walked to start the rally and moved to second base on a one-out
free pass to Brett Savage (Massillon, Ohio/Perry/Youngstown
State). An infield single by Kevin
Haas (North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Ignatius) loaded the bases for
Jake Plata (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan), who
drew a walk to tie the game.
Davidson followed with the big blow of the rally, a two-run single
to left field to give the Gold team a 3-1 lead. A subsequent wild
pitch and an RBI-single by Frazee capped off the frame and pushed
the advantage to 5-1.
The Blue team sent eight batters to the plate in the seventh and
scored twice, but that's as close as they would get.
Following tradition, the Gold team will be treated to a steak
dinner for winning the annual Blue and Gold Fall World Series while
the Blue team will eat hot dogs.
The 2007-08 UA baseball team will open its season in late February
looking to build on the strides made last spring when the team made
an eight-game improvement in the win column.
UA Baseball Fall World Series
Game 1: Gold 6, Blue 4
Game 2: Gold 10, Blue 5
Game 3: Gold 5, Blue 3
Series: Gold defeats Blue, 3-0.
