WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |Baseball: Blue Evens Series

First baseman Tyler Steele-Worsham and pitcher R.J. Smith led the Blue Team to an 11-4 win in game two of the 22nd annual Blue-Gold World Series at Hawley Field on Sunday afternoon.

The right-handed hitting Steele-Worsham homered, tripled, singled twice, was hit by a pitch and finished the day with four runs batted in, while Smith pitched five solid innings of relief to earn the win on the mound.

Steele-Worsham singled in his first at-bat and then drove in two runs with a triple to center field in the top of the third inning to key a four run rally that gave the Blue squad the lead. He then led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field that began a five run stanza that put the game out of reach. Steele-Worsham had two more opportunities to hit for the cycle, but was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning and delivered an RBI single in the top of the eighth to plate the Blue's 11th run of the day.

"Tyler had a great day at the plate", commented coach Greg Van Zant. "What I was most impressed with was when he tried to bunt for a hit late in the game when he needed a double to hit for the cycle. That just shows how team-oriented and unselfish a player Tyler is."

The right-handed throwing Smith entered the game in the bottom of the fifth in relief of Blue starting pitcher Marshall Thompson. Smith worked out of a bases loaded jam in that inning allowing only one run that cut the Blue lead to 5-4. Smith then settled down and pitched four consecutive scoreless innings to secure the win. On the afternoon, Smith allowed only one run and two hits in five innings of work while striking out three Gold hitters.

"R.J. Smith came into a tight game today and gave his team a chance to win," Van Zant says. "He really settled down and pitched well in a big situation."

The Blue team scored first on an Alan Filauro RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning off of Gold starting pitcher Benny Miller. The Gold team answered back with a run in the bottom half of the frame when outfielder Bobby Boyd delivered an RBI groundout to score shortstop Billy Fleming.

The Blue then tacked on four runs in the top of the third on an RBI single from third baseman Nate Antone, Steele-Worsham's two-run triple and then a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the third, the Gold cut the lead to 5-3 on an RBI double by Fleming and a wild pitch. After the Gold brought the game to 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue scored five times in the top of the sixth inning off of Gold relief pitcher Pen Nakazato. Steele-Worsham led off the inning with his second home run of the fall. Later in the sixth, Matt Malloy, Matt Frazer and Nate Antone delivered consecutive RBI base hits to push the Blue lead to 10-4.

Smith then faced only 14 Gold hitters over the last four innings, allowing a double and a walk to junior Gabe Brown.

 In addition to Steele-Worsham's 4-for-4 day at the plate, Malloy singled three times and Antone and Frazer both added two hits each for the winning Blue squad. Brown and Fleming each had two base hits for the Gold in the losing effort.

The series is now tied at 1-1 and the pivotal third game is scheduled for 5 p.m., today at Hawley Field. Right-hander Tyler Dipzinski will get the nod on the mound for the Blue while lefty Zach Bargeron will toe the rubber for the Gold. Admission is free for the general public.