BUTLER, PA. –Ryan Hendrickson hit a one-out single to score Brock Harris with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth as the top-seeded Apprentice School Builders defeated ninth-seeded Briarcliffe College 2-1 to close out day one of the 2013 USCAA Small College World Series.
Apprentice School scored a run in the first as Chris Aldridge hit a triple down the right field line to score Trevin Wilson who started the game with a walk. Ryland Edwards kept the Bulldogs in check for the first four innings before Briarcliffe clawed a run in the fifth as Anthony Mele doubled in Joseph Fiorino who had singled and stole second.
In the sixth, the Builders pushed a run across as Harris opened with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Mark Labrador. Hendrickson followed with a single to right to plate Harris for the 2-1 advantage. Edwards threw the first six for the Apprentice School allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts to earn the win. Sam Massie pitched the seventh for the Apprentice School and earned the save with two strikeouts.
Four Bulldogs had a hit apiece for Briarcliffe in Fiorino, Puma, Juan Colon and Daniel Farino. The Builders were topped by Aldridge who was 3-for-4 and Wilson who was 2-for-3.
Apprentice School faces Selma University in a 4pm winners bracket semifinal, while Briarcliffe plays at 6:30 pm on Tuesday against the winner of the 11 am game between St. Joseph's-Brooklyn and Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Story by Apprentice School SID Jim Heath
