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Sollmann's Double Gives Gold 7-6 Win In Game 2; Doherty, Jones Likely Game-3 Starters

Oct. 9, 2002

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Junior second baseman Steve Sollmann’s double down the rightfield line plated freshman centerfielder Brennan Grogan with the go-ahead run as the Gold team won a rare extra-inning game, 7-6, in Wednesday’s second-round game of Notre Dame’s annual Blue-Gold intrasquad baseball scrimmage.

The see-saw battle saw the Gold claim an early 2-0 lead and later forge a 3-3 tie in the top of the fourth before scoring three times in the sixth for another tie (6-6). The game then extended past the seventh inning, with senior righthander J.P. Gagne picking up the win after holding the Blue scoreless in the seventh and eighth (he allowed three hits but erased two runners on pickoff moves).

The Blue must win Thursday’s finale by at least 10 runs to win the series. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m., with sophomore righthander Tyler Jones the likely starter for the Blue while 7-foot-2 freshman righthander Ryan Doherty will look to complete the sweep for the Gold.

Blue team freshman lefthander Tom Thornton was in line for the win, after allowing three runs on four hits and one walk over five innings (with three strikeouts). Senior righthander Ryan Kalita logged four-plus innings for the Gold, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks (with five Ks).

The winning run came courtesy of a two-out fielding error, with Grogan reaching base and then taking second on a failed pickoff attempt. Sollmann gave the Gold the decisive margin, sending an 0-1 pitch from junior lefthander Cody Wilkins into the rightfield corner.

A pair of errors also hurt the Blue in the top of the sixth, with two hits, a hit batter and a double steal completing the three-run rally that ultimately forced the extra inning. Sophomore catcher Jay Molina and Grogan had hits in the inning while junior shortstop Tim Murray plated a run with a groundball to the left side.

The Blue had claimed its 6-3 lead with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, sparked by doubles from sophomore shortstop Geoff Millsom and senior DH Mike Holba.

Early highlights included Gold freshman catcher Cody Rizzo’s RBI triple to the right-center gap (plating Sollmann in the first) and a two-run blast down the leftfield line by Blue freshman centerfielder Craig Cooper in the third.

ND Gold 2-0-0   1-0-3   0-1 -   7   7   1ND Blue 1-0-2   1-2-0   0-0 -   6   11  3
Ryan Kalita, Matt Arminio (5), J.P. Gagne (7; W) and Cody Rizzo.Tom Thornton, Matt Laird (6), Cody Wilkins (8; L) and Javier Sanchez.Home Run: Craig Cooper, B (1 on in 3rd)Triples: Cody Rizzo (G).Doubles: Mike Holba (G), Matt Bransfield (G), Steve Sollmann (G),
Geoff Millsom (B), Kris Billmaier (B), Alex Netty (B).