ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Cherry & Silver World Series is coming down to a fifth and final game.
The Silver team got a go-ahead RBI single from Robby Campillo in the top of the seventh and final inning to take a 9-8 lead and Drew Gillespie closed the door on Cherry in the bottom of the frame to even the series at 2-2 during a rainy Friday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field.
Silver overcame game-tying home runs by Cherry in the fifth (a two-run homer by Jeff Deimling) and sixth innings (a three-run homer by Andre Gregory) to pick up the win to set up a winner-takes-all contest noon Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field.
Silver got the seventh inning going when Anthony Acevedo doubled to lead off the frame, and Campillo attempted to bunt him to third, but fouled off a pair of pitches to give him two strikes. The freshman made up for it by lacing a ball to left field for a single to score Acevedo and give Silver a 9-8 advantage.
Gillespie, who entered with two outs in the sixth, got some help to close out Cherry in the seventh as Cherry’s Chris Dunn hit a line drive down the third base line to open the inning – only to be snagged by a diving Carl Stajduhar at third base. Gillespie picked up a strikeout before Daniel Herrera doubled to put the game-tying run in scoring position for Cherry.
But Gillespie shut the door by getting Chris Smutny to ground out to end the game. The freshman Gillespie went 1.1 innings and gave up the lone hit to pick up the victory.
Jared Mang finished 3-for-4 with three RBI for Silver, Beau Capanna went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs while Andre Vigil, Campillo and Acevedo had two hits apiece.
Silver got a strong start from Tyler Stevens as the junior who started 16 games a season ago for the Lobos went four innings and gave up a run on three hits with five strikeouts.
Chad Smith picked up the loss for Cherry, going 1.1 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits with one strikeout.
Gregory finished 2-for-2 with the home run and three RBI for Cherry while Jack Zoellner went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI – giving him seven RBI in his last two games.
Silver fends off Cherry, forces winner-take-all game
