The University of Akron Athletics
Gold Takes Game One of Fall World Series, 5-1
October 18 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – Led by starting pitcher John Valek III's one-hit performance, Gold took game one of the Fall World series over Blue on Friday afternoon by a score of 5-1 at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Gold's offense ramped up quickly against team Blue's starter, sophomore right-hander JT Brubaker. Joey Havrilak gave Gold their first run of the game in the top of the first on a one-out RBI triple down the right field line.
Sophomore Kris Simonton followed Havrilak's triple with an RBI single to center to put Gold up 2-0. Simonton went on to score later in the inning on a wild pitch by Brubaker.
Gerrad Rohan capped off the four-run first inning with a single to left to drive in Cale Giddings from third base. Gold went into the bottom of the first with a comfortable 4-0 lead over Blue.
After the rally, the sophomore southpaw, Valek, went to work on the Blue offense. Over 6.0 innings pitched, Valek allowed just one hit and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
The game would remain at the 4-0 score until the fifth inning, when Gold added another run to take a five-run lead. Giddings drove in the fifth run of the game on a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Matt LaRocca from third.
Blue plated their lone run of the game in the bottom of the ninth, following a fielding error by the Gold second baseman, Rohan. Senior Grant Alvarez scored the run in the ninth to bring the game to its final score of 5-1.
Overall, the Gold offense banged out 11 total hits. Rohan led the way for Gold with three base hits and one RBI. Devan Ahart and Dom Iero each had two base hits a piece.
Blue managed three hits on Friday afternoon. Anthony Bova, Billy Salem and Alvarez recorded one hit each in game one.
Game two of the Fall World Series will take place on Saturday at 12:45 p.m., at Lee R. Jackson Field.
