MOBILE, Ala. -- Junior Ryan Bohanan broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run home run to right center in the sixth inning Monday night to lead the Red team to a 6-3 victory over the Blue in game two of South Alabama's Red and Blue Fall World Series. The junior college transfer from Butler Community College in Kansas also walked twice and scored twice in the victory, which evened the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
For the second straight game, the Blue team jumped out to a 1-0 lead behind Ryne Jernigan. One day after hitting a solo home run from the No. 2 spot in the order, he came up third and doubled to the gap in right center. David Doss drove him in on the next pitch with a chopper over the third baseman’s head.
The Red team evened things in the fourth. Derek O’Reilly walked and stole second to start the inning. After a flyout and another walk, Colby Cleckler executed a perfect hit-and-run to left field to drive home O’Reilly. But the Red team left the bases loaded and the inning ended with a 1-1 tie.
Red continued its momentum in the sixth. After a leadoff walk to Sean Laird, Bohanan put the Red up 3-1 when he launched a pitch over the right field fence. The Blue cut the margin to 3-2 in the seventh on a solo home run by Ryan McCrory, but the Red broke the game open in its half of the frame.
Raymond Kruml and Derek O'Reilly were on first and second, respectively, when they executed a double steal. Doss' throw to third sailed into left field, bringing Kruml home for a 4-2 lead. After Bohanan walked, Cleckler, who finished three-for-four with 2 RBIs, drove in O'Reilly with an infield single. Bohanan then scored on a the third error of the inning, this one on an errant throw by shortstop Bunky Kateon. Two of the three runs in the inning were unearned.
The Blue picked up an unearned run in the eighth to make the score 6-3, but never mounted a serious challenge.
Hunter Clarke picked up the win in relief for the Red, while Blake Bryan suffered the loss for the Blue. Greg Johnson picked up the save.
"As a fan, I enjoyed the game, but as the coach, I saw too many mistakes, both mentally and physically," Steve Kittrell said. "I liked the enthusiasm, but we have to fix some things by spring. We had outstanding pitching early on, but our relievers struggled with location. I was pleased to see some power out of Bohanan and McCrory tonight."
Game three takes place on Thursday at 5 p.m. with games four and five now scheduled for the weekend -- Satursday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.