FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Cardinal team tied up the Fall World Series at two games apiece with its 4-1 win over the White team in a seven-inning game Friday afternoon in Baum Stadium. The decisive game five is scheduled for Sunday.
In the top half of the fourth inning, the White team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with Tyler Spoon scoring on Chad Spanberger’s fielder’s choice. The lead would be short lived however, as the Cardinal team plated two runs in the bottom half. Brett McAfee led off the fourth with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Andrew Benintendi singled to right, setting up runners on the corners. Blake Baxendale’s fielder’s choice to third tied the game and Bobby Wernes singled in the go-ahead run in the next at-bat.
The Cardinal squad tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Benintendi hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and Rodriguez added an RBI single. Benintendi led the way for the Cardinal team, finishing with 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Zach Jackson earned the win for the Cardinal, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up just two hits, one earned run and three strikeouts. Jackson moved his record in the series to 1-1. Jacob Stone picked up a two-inning save, his second save of the series, as he gave up one hit while striking out two.
Dominic Taccolini took the loss for the White, giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out four across four innings. Tucker Pennell finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the White team.
The final game of the Fall World Series will be played on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Baum Stadium and will be a 7-inning contest.
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