Oct. 10, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After squandering an early three-run lead, Team Black rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth for a series-sweeping 11-10 win in the Black and Gold Series finale on Thursday. The late rally was Team Black's third victory in the ninth inning in the best-of-five set.

Down 10-9 with nobody on and two outs in the ninth, Black's John Cummins singled to start the comeback. Dominick D'Agata rewarded Cummins with a trip home on a run-scoring double to right in the next at bat to tie the game, and Adam Rusche followed with another double, this one to left, to plate D'Agata with the go-ahead run.

Right-hander Drew Wurdack (1-0), who had surrendered Team Black's 9-7 lead with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, settled down to work a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the victory.

Gold southpaw Nick Decker (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing the two runs in the ninth.

Team Black jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs on five hits in the first and two more runs in the second.

Brandon Haveman, who hit .545 in the five games, got Team Black started with a leadoff double in the first, his third two-bagger of the series. Teammates Barrett Serrato and Tyler Spillner each drove in a run on singles and Joe Haase plated a pair on a base knock in the first. Cummins, who finished Thursday's game 2 for 4, added a two-run double with two outs in the second.

Helped by four walks issued by Team Black starter Conner Sestak, Team Gold answered Black's six-run first with four runs in the home half of the frame. Rob McPike delivered the big blow for Gold with a two-run single.

Dan Black hit a solo homer to deep center, his second home run of the Black and Gold Series, in the bottom of the second to cut Team Black's advantage to 8-5.

In the eighth, after Team Black had pushed the edge back to two with a single run in the top of the inning, Gold took a short-lived lead with three runs on three hits, a walk and a defensive miscue.

Gold's Drew Madia drew a free pass from Wurdack to lead off the eighth and advanced to second on single by Jake Hansen. Ben Wolgamot dropped down a bunt single that Wurdack threw away for a two-run throwing error. Jon Moore blooped a single in right to score Wolgamot and give Gold its doomed 10-9 advantage.

In addition to Cummins' two-hit day, other offensive standouts for Team Black included Haveman (2 for 4, 2B, R), David Blount (2 for 5, R) and Spillner (2 for 5, 2 R, RBI). Haase finished with two RBI for Team Black.

Wolgamot paced the Gold squad, going 2 for 5 with two runs scored in the loss. Teammate Morre finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Black and Bifoss each homered.

CORRECTION
It was reported that Eric Nielsen delivered the game-winning hit in Wednesday's 6-5 Team Black victory. That is incorrect. Dominick D'Agata, who replaced Nielsen earlier in the game, should have been credited with the walk-off base hit in the ninth inning. D'Agata finished the contest 1 for 3 and Nielsen 0 for 2.

Score by Innings                   R   H   E
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Black............. 620 000 012 -  11  13   1
Gold.............. 410 000 230 -  10  10   2
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Black and Gold Series Results
Wednesday, October 1 - Team Black, 10-2
Friday, October 3 - Team Black, 5-4
Sunday, October 5 - Team Black, 5-1
Wednesday, October 8 - Team Black, 6-5
Thursday, October 9 - Team Black, 11-10

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