Rice's Fall World Series: Mitchell's Walkoff Double Scores Sharp in the Ninth, and the White Team Clinches 3-2
Game Two at Reckling Park had everything fall baseball is for: a pitchers' duel, a tying homer, two errors, a two-out tying single in the ninth - and a first-pitch walkoff double.
HOUSTON - Caden Mitchell doubled home pinch runner Braden Sharp with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night to give the White team a 3-2 walkoff win over the Navy team and clinch Rice's Fall World Series in Game Two, Rice Athletics reported. Sharp, brought on to run after Paul Smith walked and Brady Ladusau beat a potential double-play throw to first, was in motion immediately as Mitchell drove the first pitch into the right-field corner and sprinted home with the winning run.
For five innings it was a pitchers' game. Navy's Ethan Sanders allowed two hits and struck out five, and White's Zachary Fetchel scattered four hits and a walk while striking out four; the only early run came in the second, when Landon West singled infield, moved around and scored on Brandon Creek's ground out. Hiram Bocachica Jr. tied the game with a two-out solo home run in the sixth, and White went ahead in the seventh without a decisive hit - Ladusau reached on a two-base error and sprinted home on the inning's second error.
Navy, down to its last three outs, tied it in the ninth: Kutter-Gage Webb walked, stole second, stayed there through two outs and scored on Parker Mitzel's single. The celebration lasted one half-inning. The Fall World Series - Rice's intrasquad close to fall practice - wrapped up Wednesday with the third and final game at 2:45 p.m. at Reckling Park, with the series itself already decided by Mitchell's double.
