Oct. 14, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore Cole Johnson (Hudson, Ohio) allowed one earned run over 6.0 innings as the Blue knocked off the Gold, 6-2, in the opening game from the 2008 Blue-Gold World Series.
Johnson retired the first eight batters of the game before plunking freshman Tommy Chase (Cohasset, Mass.) in the bottom of the third inning.
The Blue broke the game open with their five-run third inning. They loaded the bases on a hit batter and singles by sophomore Greg Sherry (Mendham, N.J.) and junior Brayden Ashdown (Tucson, Ariz.). After junior A.J. Pollock (Hebron, Conn.) popped out, sophomore Matt Scioscia (Westlake Village, Calif.) pulled a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Senior Jeremy Barnes (Garland, Texas) followed with a RBI double just inside of the third base bag and sophomore David Casey (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) capped the rally with a two-run double into the left centerfield gap.
The five-run cushion was more than enough for Johnson, but he did work out of trouble in the fourth inning. After junior Matt Grosso (Marlborough, Conn.) laced a one-out single, Johnson hit junior Billy Boockford (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) to put runners on first and second. Both Grosso and Boockford advanced into scoring position following Johnson’s wild pitch, but the right-handed hurler got junior Casey Martin (Chesterton, Ind.) to pop out and then struck out senior Eddy Mendiola (Miami, Fla.) to end the inning.
The Gold did scratch out a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of Johnson. Herman Petzold (Saint Clair Shores, Mich.) struck out, but reached on a passed ball. Sophomore Cameron McConnell (Bannockburn, Ill.) followed with a single and Chase then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both Petzold and McConnell into scoring position. Freshman Alex Robinson (Dallas, Texas) made the Blue pay with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Johnson limited the damage to those two runs after getting junior David Mills (Battlecreek, Mich.) to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Gold got back-to-=back singles from Grosso and Boockford to open the sixth, but Johnson got another double play, this time on his first offering to Martin. Johnson then fanned Mendiola to end the inning.
Johnson allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out four and did not issue a walk. Johnson induced 10 ground ball outs.
Sophomore Brian Dupra (Rochester, N.Y.) was charged with the loss. He was tagged with five earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of work. Dupra fanned three and walked two.
Junior Ryne Intlekofer (Moorpark, Calif.) and Barnes each had two hits apiece for the Blue. Grosso was the lone Gold player to register a multi-hit game.
Junior Steven Mazur (Round Rock, Texas) tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Freshman Will Hudgins (Richmond, Va.) worked 2.1 innings of relief and allowed one earned run on a pair of hits. He struck out three and walked none.
The Blue and Gold return to action tomorrow afternoon with game-2 of the Fall World Series. The game can heard live on UND.com. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
— ND —