COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Anthony Papio's two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference as the Old Liners defeated the Aggies, 3-2, in game one of the 2014 Fall World Series at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Thursday afternoon.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Papio capped his 2-for-4 day with a two-run blast to give the Old Liners a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Left hander Alex Robinson entered in the ninth and locked down the save with a 1-2-3 frame striking out two.
Mike Shawaryn, a freshman All-American a season ago, started for the Old Liners and pitched five scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Shawaryn was opposed by junior Jake Drossner, who struck out six over five innings allowing one earned run.
The Old Liners got on the board first courtesy of a RBI walk from freshman Zach Jancarski. The inning began with a leadoff single from Matt Oniffrey, which was followed by a Papio double to set up Jancarski.
The Aggies tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Nick Cieri. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Kevin Smith. LaMonte Wade sacrificed him to third allowing Cieri to tie the game.
In the eighth, the Aggies took the lead behind a Wade single and a two-out single from Justin Morris. After Wade stole second, Morris drove him home to give the Aggies the one-run lead setting the stage for Papio's game-winning home run.
Rob Galligan earned the win for the Old Liners after pitching 1-2/3 innings following Andrew Green's 1-1/3 innings of work. For the Aggies, Taylor Bloom followed Drossner and pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Mike Rescigno was charged with the loss.
Offensively, Kevin Biondic and Jamal Wade went 1-for-4 each with a double for the Old Liners, and Oniffrey went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Wade led the Aggies with two hits and a run scored, while Cieri, Jose Cuas, Morris and Lewis each added a hit.
The Fall World Series resumes Friday at 3:15 p.m. from Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
-Maryland-
