Fusilier Keys Win for White Squad

Lincoln- Riding the bat of senior Brandon Fusilier, the White squad won the first game of the annual Red/White Series 3-2 at Hawks Field Tuesday afternoon. Fusilier played a part in all three runs scored by the White squad, scoring twice and driving in another in a 2-for-3 day.

The White squad struck in the bottom of the first inning after Fusilier’s double scored senior Joe Simokaitis from first. Junior college transfer Trey Adams drove in Fusilier two batters later on a two-out single.

Senior left-hander Jeremy Becker responded, however, holding the White team scoreless for the next four innings. His offense caught hold in the fourth, as sophomore Braden Keith delivered a two-out single. After freshman Andy Gerch was walked, Keith scored on freshman Casey Klapperich’s single, cutting the deficit to 2-1. That run was the only one surrendered by sophomore transfer Joba Chamberlain, who threw five solid innings for the White squad. Chamberlain gave up only five hits and four walks while striking out four in a no-decision.

Senior Dusty Timm came on in relief of Chamberlain in the top of the sixth and promptly hit senior Daniel Bruce to lead off the inning. After Keith laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Bruce to second, Gerch came through with a run-scoring single to tie the contest at 2-2. Timm got Klapperich to ground into a fielder’s choice for the second out, and junior transfer Adam Moore caught Klapperich attempting to steal second to end the inning.

After a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning, Fusilier delivered a single, advancing Simokaitis. Simokaitis was then caught on the front-half of a double steal, leaving Fusilier on second base with one out. After Fusilier advanced to third on a wild pitch, the red squad intentionally walked senior Curtis Ledbetter. With one out and runners on the corners, Adams recorded his second RBI of the day, hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in Fusilier for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Junior Brett Jensen came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning and picked up the save in preserving the 3-2 victory for the White squad. Timm earned the win in relief while Becker took the loss in a valiant effort, striking out four, walking two and giving up three earned runs on seven hits over six innings.

The two teams return to action tomorrow when junior Zach Kroenke takes the mound for the Red squad to battle freshman Ryan Bohanan. The seven inning contest is tentatively slated to begin at 2:15 p.m.