Gold wins ECU baseball World Series, 8-5

Spencer Brickhouse’s two-run homer capped a seven-run sixth inning lifting Gold to an 8-5 victory over Purple Sunday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. With the win, Gold (2-0) claimed the 2018 World Series title over Purple (0-2).

Trailing 5-1 going to the home half of the sixth, Gold plated seven runs on four hits taking an 8-5 advantage. With two outs and a runner and Stephen Wilmer standing on first, Thomas Francisco reached after being hit by a pitch before Brickhouse laced an RBI single through the left side scoring the first run of the frame. Christian Smallwood followed with a double pushing across Francisco and Brickhouse cutting the lead to one, 5-4. Connor Norby’s RBI double knotted the game at five plating Smallwood. Wilmer would keep the inning going when he reached on a fielding error that allowed Norby to cross home before Brickhouse blasted an Evan Voliva offering over the right field wall for a three-run lead.

Garrett Russell (1-0) picked up the win working two-thirds of an inning of relief. Wilmer notched his second save of the World Series walking one in his inning of relief. Stater Zach Barnes allowed five runs (all earned) on 10 hits in 3.2 frames. Garrett Saylor (1.0 IP, 0 Rs, 3 BBs) and Cam Colmore (0.2 IP, 1 H) also saw action out of the bullpen.

Voliva (0-1) took the loss surrendering four runs (one earned) on three hits without recording an out. Carter Spivey gave up one run (earned) on two hits with a pair of walks in four frames, while Cole Beavin was touched for three runs (all earned) on one hit with a walk and a strikeout in 1.2 innings.

Gold jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to Norby’s RBI single. Bryson Worrell doubled to start the frame and took third on Francisco’s sac bunt. Brickhouse (hit by pitch) and Smallwood (walk) loaded the bases for Norby, who sent a shot through the left side for the early one-run advantage.

Purple responded with three runs in the second and added two more in the fourth for a 5-1 lead. With Chandler Jenkins standing on second, Nick Barber moved him over on a sac bunt. Lane Hoover followed with an RBI triple and scored on Ryan Giles RBI single to right field. Bryant Packard kept the frame going with a single to right putting runners on the corners for Brady Lloyd, who singled home Giles for a 3-1 lead. Packard’s RBI double and Alec Burleson’s RBI sac fly accounted for both runs in the fourth.

Brickhouse and Norby tallied a pair of hits for Purple, while Brickhouse (three), Norby (two) and Smallwood (two) drove in multiple runs on the day. For Gold, Packard led the way with three hits and an RBI, while Giles, Hoover and Jenkins collected two hits each.