Cherry-Silver Game Three Photo Gallery
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Silver used three three-run innings to defeat Cherry 11-5 and take a 2-1 lead in the Cherry-Silver Series. Silver scored three in the third, seventh and ninth innings with Reece Weber the big offensive star. He went 3-for-4 with two triples, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. He also had a big defensive assist, throwing out Carl Stajduhar at third base in the fourth inning.
“I’ve been working with Coach Birmingham and trying to get an approach going through the fall,” the redshirt sophomore said. “I’m trying to let the ball get deep and make good contact. For Silver, that’s the entire team’s approach. We talked about working the count, seeing good pitches, hitting good pitches, cutting the plate in half and just work. Honestly I was just trying to keep it simple and make good contact.”
Silver needed only one hit in the third to score their three runs thanks to three walks, an error, a balk and a passed ball by Cherry.
After five it was just a one-run lead for Silver, but Weber led off the sixth with his first triple and scored on Scottie Graham’s sacrifice fly. The floodgates opened again in the seventh, with Weber’s second triple proving to be the big blow as it drove in two.
In the ninth Silver was able to score three again with just one hit and three walks and a crucial Cherry error.
Silver starter Carson Schneider was charged with three runs in 4.2 innings, but the bullpen did its job. Christian Tripp, Preston Ryan and Austin Isenhart combined to allow just two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings to close out the victory. Cherry starter Drew Bridges lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed three runs (one earned), but he struck out three. Matt Villalobos came on for his second extended relief appearance of the series and struck out four in 3.2 innings, and he also allowed just one earned run (two total).
Lane Milligan and Jared Mang each went 2-for-4 to help Weber pace the Silver offense, while Michael Eaton reached three times on a single and a pair of walks. Milligan also scored three runs.
For Cherry, Luis Gonzalez failed to homer for the first time in the series but doubled in the first and also walked and scored in the fifth. Chris DeVito went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs, and Austin Bell reached base three times on a single and two walks.
Silver will look to clinch the series Wednesday at 4 p.m. Admission is once again free and open to the public.
“We have to come out with the same hype, fire and energy we had today,” Weber said. “If we come out with energy, have fun, and play hard, then the rest will take care of itself.”