The UTM baseball team completed its fall practice last Sunday as the Blue took a high-scoring game five to win the team’s fall intersquad series.

The story was runs, runs and more runs, as the Blue scored in every inning but the seventh to take a 17-15 decision and arise victorious in the series.

The Orange scored twice in the top of the first and twice more in the third to grab a 4-2 lead. However, their excitement was short-lived as a Michael Fabrizio three-run home run triggered a Blue eruption, which led to a nine-run third and an 11-4 Blue lead.

The Orange tried to mount several comebacks, plating four runs in the fourth and three each in the seventh and eighth, but the Blue offense proved too tough, as it scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the eighth to retain the lead. The Blue then staved off a last gasp by the Orange, as a double play with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth closed the deal.

For the Blue, who pounded out 13 hits, Zac Parham led the way with five RBI. Clayton Pitman added three hits and scored four times, while Doug Nicodemus had two doubles and three runs and Fabrizio had the big three-run bomb. Derek Link took the win on the mound.

For the Orange, Brett Spivy paced the offense, going 5-5 with three singles, two doubles, and seven RBI. Hunter Hart went 2-4 with four walks and Pat Bunch added a two-run homer. Dustin Summers took the loss.

“This capped off a great fall,” said assistant coach and Orange manager, Marshall Canosa. “The guys had great attitudes and showed the will to work hard.”

The baseball team will now resume its off-season strength and conditioning program before returning to the field in late January to prepare for the spring season.