web Charlotte

Oct. 10, 2009

Charlotte, N.C. - Outfielder Shane Brown lined a game-winning RBI single to left in the bottom of the tenth to give the White team a 7-6 game-one victory in the best-of-seven Niner World Series at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium Friday afternoon at Charlotte.

Senior catcher Mike Perkins doubled three times and redshirt sophomore Ross Steedley belted a pair of two-run homers in White's comeback win. The White team leads the series 1-0, with the menu of the end of fall practice dinner at stake.

Freshman RHP Wes Hatley earned the victory after tossing two innings of scoreless relief for the White squad. He struck out a pair of hitters in the top of the tenth inning to hold the tie and give the White team a chance to earn the win with a dramatic bottom half. Perkins led off the tenth with his third double of the day, a line drive down the right field line. After an intentional walk, freshman Jim Lyerly sacrificed the runners to first and second for the frame's first out. Green RHP Brandon DeLong got a key strikeout, only to have a defensive miscue allow the batter to reach first. With the bases loaded, Brown deposited a pitch to left to end the opening game of the series. Brown got hits in his first two at bats with the bases loaded last spring, including an inside-the-park grand slam for his first collegiate at-bat back in February.

Green controlled the game until the final two innings. Freshman RHP Dylan Taylor was dominant for the first five innings. Green had a two-run lead when he went out for the sixth. In that inning, Perkins got the first hit for the Green team with his first double of the day. Redshirt sophomore Ross Steedley then tied the game at two with a towering homer to left.

Green answered back with single runs in the seventh and eighth. Redshirt junior Cory Tilton had RBI singles in the seventh and eighth innings, driving in J.J. Elseser and Ryan Lazenby, respectively, after each had doubled to get into scoring position.

White got one of the runs back in the eighth, but Green pushed the lead to three when Kevin Gillespie and Miguel Rodriguez scored in the ninth for a 6-3 edge.

White staged the comeback starting with Perkins's second double and a second home run from Steedley, making it 6-5. After two outs, Brown singled and later advanced to second, where he was brought home on an RBI single from sophomore Justin Roland.

Game 2 will be played at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on Sunday October 11th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm. Gates will open at 5pm and admission is free.

	1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10	    R   H   E
Green	0    1    1    0    0    0    1    1    2    0	    6  14   4
White	0    0    0    0    0    2    0    1    3    1	    7   9   2 

(White leads the series 1 - 0) Projected starters for Game 2 are freshman RHP Corbin Shive for the Green squad and freshman RHP Corey Roberts for White.