IOWA CITY – The Gold team blasted three home runs on its way to a 7-2 victory in Tuesday’s seven-inning opener of the Black & Gold World Series at Duane Banks Field.
Redshirt junior Raider Tello got the Black team on the board in the bottom of the first, driving in senior Michael Seegers with an RBI-double off of sophomore Gold starter Anthony Watts.
Junior outfielder Sam Petersen delivered two home runs for the Gold team – a two-run shot over the center field batter’s eye in the third and a three-run blast to left in the fourth. Sophomore first baseman Blake Guerin got in on the action, lifting a solo home run to left in the fourth.
An error following a base hit by junior Connor Hennings got the Black team back on the scoreboard in the sixth, pulling the squad within five. Freshman Jaixen Frost came to the box with the bases loaded and two outs, but senior Caleb Strack struck him out to end the threat.
The Gold team, which tallied nine total hits, did its damage in the middle innings with the home runs from Petersen and Guerin and an RBI-single from sophomore Gable Mitchell. The Gold team relied on four arms in the win. Watts settled in and threw two and 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, one run and striking out three. Junior Jack Whitlock came on in relief in the third inning and preserved the lead. Strack entered in the fourth and gave way to redshirt junior Zach Voelker, who closed the door to secure the win.
The Black team registered five hits in the loss. Junior Marcus Morgan got the nod on the mound for the Black team, firing three innings, striking out three and giving up two runs. Sophomore Justin Hackett saw action in the fourth, before senior Jack Young entered and pitched into the sixth. Junior Chas Wheatley came on in relief and got out of a jam in the sixth. Freshman Doug Taylor tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes host game two of the Black & Gold World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and admission is free.
