October 12, 2006
The Plowboys used a five-run third and a six-run eighth to win the opening game of the annual Texas A&M Baseball Fall World Series, 11-6, Thursday night at Olsen Field.
Trailing 6-5 after seven-complete, the Plowboys scored six unearned runs, all with two outs, to earn the win. Farmers?â„¢ reliever Kiel Renfro retired the first two men in the inning before surrendering a double to Brian Ruggiano and a walk to Luke Anders. Justin Whittenberg then lifted a high pop to the middle of the infield. Shortstop Brodie Greene stumbled on the mound and the ball popped out of his glove, allowing Ruggiano to score. Dane Carter delivered a two-RBI single and Jackson drove in his third and fourth runs of the game with a single.
Renfro shouldered the loss while Michael Heard threw the final 2 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win.
Along with his four RBI, Jackson collected three hits to lead the Plowboys. Dane Carter, Luke Anders and Brandon Hicks each tallied a pair of hits.
Balke Stouffer led the way for the Farmers, driving in three runs with two hits. Darby Brown, Brodie Greene and Damon Aaron also had two hits each.
The Farmers took the initial lead in the bottom of the first, mainly due to the speed of leadoff hitter Ben Feltner. Feltner walked to start the inning and stole second. After Plowboys?â„¢ starting pitcher Shane Minks struck out Stuoffer, Feltner stole third and scored on a shallow flyball to right by Kyle Colligan.
The Plowboys responded in a big way in the top of the third with five runs off Farmers?â„¢ starter Jason Fuqua. The Farmers sent 10 men to the plate in the frame and collected five hits. Kevin Gonzalez drove in a run with a single, Hicks plated a run with a double, Jackson drove in two with a double, and Ruggiano plated the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to right.
Feltner provided excitement again in the bottom of the third when the Farmers scored twice to cut the Plowboys?â„¢ lead to 5-3. Josh Stinson walked to start the inning and Feltner drew his second walk of the game. Stinson scored and Feltner moved to third on a single to left by Stouffer. With two outs, Feltner executed a straight steal of home, his third stolen base of the night.
The Farmers scratched two more runs across in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at five. Aaron singled and Feltner drew his third walk of the game, before Stouffer laced a double to right center to score both runners.
Caleb Shofner gave the Farmers the lead with an RBI single which scored Colligan in the bottom of the seventh.
Game two of the three game series will be played Friday at 6 p.m. at Olsen Field. The third game will be played on Saturday at 10 a.m. no matter the outcome of game two.
PLOWBOYS ?- 005 000 060 ?- 11 11 1
FARMERS ?- 102 020 101 ?- 7 11 3
Plowboys ?- Minks, Starling (5), Heard (7) and Gonzalez, Hulett (9); Farmers ?- Fuqua, Renfro (5), Gerald (8) and Stinson, J.
Win ?- Heard; Loss ?- Renfro; Save ?- None
E ?- Gonzalez, Feltner, Greene
2B ?- Hicks, Ruggiano, Anders, Stouffer, Rivers
SB ?- Feltner 3, Hicks, Aaron
T ?- 2:52