Game 3: Navy edges Grey to take series lead
November 14, 2012
SHREVEPORT, La. - Navy defeated Grey in Game 3 of the 2012 LSUS Fall World Series on Wednesday night at Pilot Field 3-1. Pitching was much better all-around for both teams after last night's walk-a-thon in Game 2. Navy takes a two-games to one lead in the best of five series format heading into the off day.
Starter Caleb Olson (1-0) looked strong for Navy tossing four solid innings allowing just one hit and an unearned run while striking out seven and allowed no walks or hit-by-pitches. The south paw threw 86 pitches. Reno Dupuis pitched for the second game in a row; tonight he threw an inning and 1/3 allowing two hits, one walk, and one strikeout. Player/Coach Ben Edmiston worked 2/3 of an inning to get to the closer Brock Blanchard.
The stakes were high in the pivotal Game 3 with Navy leading by one and Grey's Mikey Ford reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh. Then Rhett Gonsoulin was beaned which ended the night for Edmiston.
Blanchard came in and allowed a base hit to the first batter he faced Jacob Lopez who had gone to the plate to try and move the runners over to put the tying runs in scoring position. Lopez was able to work the count full after a couple of failed bunt attempts and ripped a single to left to load the bases with nobody out and the winning run now on the base paths.
Blanchard reached back and fanned the next two hitters, Manny Estrada on three pitches and Brandon Cooksey on six pitches. Zack LeJeune was the last chance for Grey and Blanchard got him to fly out to left to end the game to Blanchard his first save and give Navy the series lead.
The two-run fifth inning propelled Navy to the lead as Kade Billeaudeaux drove in a run with a single and Allen Degges brought him in with a double down the left field line for the 3-1 advantage. Grey's only run of the game came in the third inning when Gonsoulin reached on an error and advanced to third on a wild pitch and then stole home to take the 1-0 lead for Grey.
The winning pitcher of Game one for Grey Ben Suit (1-1) suffered the loss in an inning and 1/3 of relief work allowing two hits, two runs-one unearned, walked none and struck out two after starter Trent Cormier tossed four solid innings allowing three hits, an unearned run, one walk and five strikeouts. Michael Wilson threw the final inning and 2/3 allowing no runs and no hits.
Navy has battled their way back into the series after dropping game one. Grey will get a much needed day off to see if the jet-lag has time to wear off after traveling over from the first base dugout before the next game on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Pilot Field.
