Oct. 18, 2013

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Blue team scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally and win 7-6 on Friday night in Game 6 of the Orange and Blue World Series. With the win, the Blue team won the second mini-series, two games to one. The deciding seventh game of the series will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Orange won the first mini-series, two games to one.

Cameron Tekker earned the win for the Blue team. Tekker pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out one and walking none. Whit Mayberry started the game for the Blue team, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits over 4 2/3 innings while walking a pair and striking out two.

Austin Young took the loss for the Orange, allowing three earned runs on four hits over one inning. Josh Sborz was the starter and threw a solid five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out four and walking a pair.

Nick Howard went 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Blue's 10-hit night, while four players picked up two hits as the Orange also finished with 10 hits.

The Blue team scored a pair of runs in the third to gain the lead, 2-0. With two men on, Nick Howard blooped a double into right field, scoring Mike Papi and Matt Thaiss. The Orange team responded with one run in the top of the fourth when George Ragsdale laced a double that scored Robbie Coman.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Blue again scored a pair of runs. They loaded the bases and scored on back-to-back RBI groundouts by LaPrise and Thaiss, plating Scott Williams and Thomas Woodruff, respectively.

Errors were key in the big fifth inning for the Orange, and all four runs scored were unearned. It all started when Brandon Cogswell hit a popup to short. There was a miscommunication between Blue team shortstop Daniel Pinero and third baseman Thomas Woodruff, and the ball dropped in the infield. From there, Coman hit into a fielder's choice that scored Cogswell. Rob Bennie smashed a double that scored two, and then later scored on a throwing error by Woodruff.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue team got four hits, which led to three runs in that inning. John La Prise hit a single that drove in Woodruff. The next batter, Brandon Downes, hit a sacrifice fly that scored Mike Papi. Finally, Howard slapped a single to score La Prise.

The seventh got dicey for the Blue team. Leading 7-5, Tekker gave up an RBI single to Cogswell that scored Nate Irving. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Tekker forced Derek Fisher to pop out to short to end the game.

Orange & Blue World Series Schedule
Game 1: Orange 5, Blue 4
Game 2: Orange 8, Blue 4
Game 3: Blue 5, Orange 3 (Orange wins first mini-series, 2-1)
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Game 4: Orange 5, Blue 4
Game 5: Blue 5, Orange 4
Game 6: Blue 7, Orange 6 (Blue wins second mini-series, 2-1)
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Game 7: Sun., Oct. 20, 1 p.m.