The White Team defeated the Green Team in every facet of the game during Thursday's opening game of the annual Hatter series at Melching Field.  The squad pitched well, played good defense, got timely hits, had quality at bats, and ran the bases well.

Led by junior left-hander Cameron Griffin on the mound, the White Team kept Green in check all day.  Griffin started on the mound and went four innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits.  He struck out five batters and walked two on his way to the win.  Chad Rood, Brandon Diaz and Matt Brandys each pitched scoreless frames in the fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Offensively, the White Team scored in every frame but the second, and every hitter crossed the plate at least once.  Of the 12 runs, only four were earned as White took advantage of four Green fielding errors.  They also swiped seven bags in the seven inning contest.

Sophomore shortstop Tyler Bocock led the way at the plate, going three-for-five with two runs scored, two stolen bases, and an RBI.  Leadoff man, sophomore center fielder Tanner Blackman, went two-for-four with two runs scored, a stolen base, and two RBI.

The big blow to Green's chances came off of freshman first baseman Pat Mazeika's bat in the second inning when he connected on a two-RBI double over the right fielder's head.  Mazeika later came in to score on an RBI single by fellow freshman, catcher Buck McCarthy.  Mazeika also knocked in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, finishing the day one-for-four with three RBI and a walk.  McCarthy also went one-for-four with an RBI and a walk.

Sophomore second baseman Kyle Pitts wreaked havoc on the bases, reaching base three out of five times to the plate, and stealing three bases.  As a team, White had nine hits, walked six times and only struck out four times on the day.  They moved a runner from second to third with no outs successfully in all three opportunities they had.  Defensively, they did not commit an error.

The Green Team couldn't muster much offense on the day.  The lone run was scored by freshman third baseman Carlos Garmendia, who swung the bat well in a one-for-three day, hitting two balls hard. Redshirt freshman Ben Rakus took the loss for the Green team surrendering five runs, only one of which was earned, in two innings of work.

The Hatter Series continues today, Friday, at 3:00 p.m. at Melching Field.  Admission is free to the public.