Team Black downs Team Red, 12-10, in Game One of Red/Black

Team Black downs Team Red, 12-10, in Game One of Red/Black

October 30, 2024 | Baseball

The Black side used a seven-run eighth and two runs in the ninth to come-from-behind

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – Antonelli Savattere went 3-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored while Garet Boehm and Dylan Maxcey each added three hits, to lead Team Black to a 12-10 come-from-behind win over Team Red, in Game One of the Fall Red/Black Series Wednesday afternoon at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

In the victory, Savattere finished a home run shy of the cycle.

Team Red was led by Sophomore outfielder Logan Hughes and infielder TJ Pompey. Hughes, who went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and two doubles drove in six, while Pompey finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two walks.

In what stated as pitcher's duel quickly exploded into an offensive slugfest late, as the two sides combined for 17 runs in the final five innings of play.

Down 10-3 heading to the eighth, Team Black used a seven-run eighth inning and pair of runs in the ninth to close out the game one win. Freshman Will Jordan retired all eight batters he faced to earn the victory.

Team Black struck first in the opening frame of the game when a leadoff double from Savattere and a wild pitch placed a runner on third base with no out. The next batter, Robin Villeneuve, took the fourth pitch he saw from Mac Heuer to right for a sac-fly and the game's first run.

With the bases empty and two out, Peyton Schulze worked a five-pitch walk and stole second, setting the table for the first of three RBI singles from Maxcey.

Armed with a 2-0 lead, Team Black starter Jack Cebert stranded a one out double closing a scoreless first inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

The game remained 2-0 until the home half of the third when an error gave Team Red its first baserunner of the afternoon. With freshman Ryan Jones on second and one out, Hughes ripped a double into the right-center gap that plated Jones and cut the Black lead to 2-1.

Hughes' RBI double was the only run that Cebert would allow on the afternoon as the righty scattered three hits and struck out four over his 3.1 innings pitched. Cebert did not walk a batter on the afternoon.

Following back-to-back perfect innings in the second and third, Heuer stranded a two-out single from Dominic Archila to keep the game at 2-1.

In the end, after allowing two runs in the first, Heuer cruised through the final three innings of his outing, as the right-hander retired 10 of his final 11 batters he faced.

With Team Black still on top 2-1 in bottom of the fourth, the red side used a one-double from Freshman Coleman Ryan and a walk by Ryan Jones to flip the lineup over for leadofff batter Kyeler Thompson.

Batting with runners at second and third, Thompson smoked a ball to Villeneuve who with a dive made a nice pick at first base. Despite the nice gloe work, Villeneuve was unable to record an out, as the single by Thompson tied the game at two.

The game did not remain tied for long, as Hughes on a full count, lined out to right, scoring Jones from third base.

Up 3-2 in the fifth, Team Red turned to senior lefty Brendan Lysik who allowed a leadoff triple to Savattere. The tying run scored a couple of pitches later on a passed ball.

With the game tied at three, Lysik recorded the final two outs of the frame on a line-drive double play to Damian Bravo at second.

Leading off the home half of the fifth, Pompey jumpstarted a big five-run inning for his side when he lifted a solo homer to right-center. The blast gave Team Red a 4-3 lead.

Back in front, Team Red used back-to-back singles from Davis Rivers and Hudson Parker to place two on and nobody out. Looking to limit the damage, Zach Erdman used back-to-back strikeouts to pull to within an out of escaping the jam, but a four-pitch walk to Thompson loaded the bases for Hughes.

Looking to break the game open, Hughes did just that, as the outfielder turnaround the first pitch he saw from Erdman for a grand slam that gave Team Red an 8-3 lead.

The game remained 8-3 until the bottom of the seventh when Pompey tripled home Bravo to give the red side a 9-3 lead. The infielder later scored a couple of pitches later to give Team Red a 10-3 lead.

Down 10-3, Team Black turned to Jordan, who stranded a pair of runners to record the final two outs of the seventh.

Riding the momentum from Jordan's key two outs, Team Black saw the first seven batters to reach in the top of the eighth. Tracer Lopez led off the frame with a double and after a walk to Schulze scored on an Rbi single by Maxcey .

With the score 10-4, Team Black pulled to within 10-7 on back-to-back singles from Garet Boehm and Archila. Boehms single scored the fifth run, while Archila's scored a pair.

Back to within striking distance, Team Black used an RBI groundout by Savattere and an RBI single from Villeneuve to pull to within 10-9. Down by just a run, Team Black ultimately tied the game on a two out single by Maxcey.

Returning to the mound in a tied 10-10 game, Jordan pitched a perfect 1-2-3 eighth to send the game to the ninth.

Looking to complete the comeback, Boehm led off with a double and eventually scored the winning run on a single by Archila and a fielding error in left. The Black side ultimately added a key insurance run one batter later when Savattere plated Archila on single through the right-side.

Armed with a two-run lead, Jordan sandwiched a pair of flyouts between a grounder to first to shut the door and close out the 12-10 win.

UP NEXT:
Team Red will look to bounce back in game two of the Red/Black series on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.