Troy University Athletics
Fall World Series: Game Three Recap
11/16/2017 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Alabama – Manning Early drove in Brandon Lockridge in the bottom of the ninth to push the Fighting Gierkes past the Phillips Heads, 4-3, in walk-off fashion to clinch the 2017 Fall World Series title Thursday afternoon.
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Early stepped to the plate with two on and two out and delivered an infield single to bring Lockridge and the series home for the Gierkes.
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The Gierkes entered the ninth trailing 3-2 but Matt Sanders sparked a rally with a leadoff triple to right center – Sanders then scored on a wild pitch to even the score.
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The back-and-forth series finale started with a bang for the Phillips Heads when Drew Frederic led off with a bunt single, reached third on a passed ball and scored on a sac fly from Jackson Cofer to go up 1-0.
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The Gierkes struck back in the bottom of the seventh with a double, single and sac bunt combination to move the score to 2-1.
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The lead did not last long as Chase Smartt and Dylan Crutcher responded with back-to-back doubles in the eighth to give the Phillips the 3-2 lead. Smartt finished the game 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead all batters.
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Ryan Fultz earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings of one-hit work. Daren Osby started the game on the mound and struck out four over 3.1 innings. Osby allowed three runs – one earned – on five hits without walking any.
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Rush Hixon was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings on the mound. Hixon relieved Levi Thomas who also allowed two runs on three hits in his two innings of work.
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The Fighting Gierkes took game one of the series Sunday afternoon before the Phillips Heads evened the set with a win Wednesday night. The Gierkes then emerged victorious in tonight's winner-take-all matchup to earn bragging rights for the next year.
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The Trojans will open the 2018 season on February 16 against UT Martin at Riddle-Pace Field.
Stay up to date with all Troy Baseball news on TroyTrojans.com or on Twitter @TroyTrojansBSB.
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Early stepped to the plate with two on and two out and delivered an infield single to bring Lockridge and the series home for the Gierkes.
Â
The Gierkes entered the ninth trailing 3-2 but Matt Sanders sparked a rally with a leadoff triple to right center – Sanders then scored on a wild pitch to even the score.
Â
The back-and-forth series finale started with a bang for the Phillips Heads when Drew Frederic led off with a bunt single, reached third on a passed ball and scored on a sac fly from Jackson Cofer to go up 1-0.
Â
The Gierkes struck back in the bottom of the seventh with a double, single and sac bunt combination to move the score to 2-1.
Â
The lead did not last long as Chase Smartt and Dylan Crutcher responded with back-to-back doubles in the eighth to give the Phillips the 3-2 lead. Smartt finished the game 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead all batters.
Â
Ryan Fultz earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings of one-hit work. Daren Osby started the game on the mound and struck out four over 3.1 innings. Osby allowed three runs – one earned – on five hits without walking any.
Â
Rush Hixon was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings on the mound. Hixon relieved Levi Thomas who also allowed two runs on three hits in his two innings of work.
Â
The Fighting Gierkes took game one of the series Sunday afternoon before the Phillips Heads evened the set with a win Wednesday night. The Gierkes then emerged victorious in tonight's winner-take-all matchup to earn bragging rights for the next year.
Â
The Trojans will open the 2018 season on February 16 against UT Martin at Riddle-Pace Field.
Stay up to date with all Troy Baseball news on TroyTrojans.com or on Twitter @TroyTrojansBSB.
Players Mentioned
OF/RHP
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IF
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