Blue edges White in game two of series, 10-8

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Blue Raiders combined for 21 hits and 18 runs, as the Blue team topped the White team, 10-8, on Saturday afternoon in game two of the Blue-White Series at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Shortstop Ryan Ford paced the Blue squad, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs.

Third baseman Hank LaRue chipped in three RBI, while second baseman Johnny Thomas also knocked in a pair of runs.

The White squad was led by designated hitter Matthew Drake's three RBI, with two of them coming on a home run in the third.

Blue scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, then tacked on four more in the third to take a 6-0 lead. White cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of three extra-base hits. First baseman Ethan Williams drove in the team's first run with a triple to right field, then Drake unloaded on a 1-1 pitch and sent the ball over the rightfield wall to make it 6-3.

LaRue plated his second run of the game on a fielder's choice in the fourth and designated hitter Jonathan Sisco took a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-3.

White inched back with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Blue tacked on two more in the fifth for the 10-4 lead.

White rallied in the sixth, taking advantage of a Blue miscue to pull within two, but a groundout ended the comeback and Blue reliever Hunter Adkins retired White in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.

Adkins picked up the win after tossing 3.1 innings and giving up four runs, only one earned, on four hits. Kooper Kessler suffered the loss in a 2.2-inning outing, allowing six runs on five hits.

The series comes to a close on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1:45 p.m.

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