Purple & Gold World Series Game 2

BATON ROUGE, La. - Sophomore outfielder Chris Sciambra drove in two runs Thursday while freshman right-hander Russell Reynolds allowed one run in three innings to lead the Gold team to a 4-2 victory over the Purple in Game 2 of the LSU Baseball Purple-Gold World Series in Alex Box Stadium.

The intrasquad series, consisting of three six-inning games, concludes with Game 3 at 5 p.m. Friday. The Purple-Gold World Series culminates LSU's six-week fall practice period.

The Gold squad opened the series on Tuesday with a 5-1 victory. Though it has lost the first two games, the Purple team can still be declared the series winner if it defeats the Gold by seven or more runs on Friday.

Sciambra, who missed most of last season after suffering a broken bone in his neck in March, produced an RBI single in the second inning and a run-scoring double in the fourth to pace the Gold's effort.

"Sciambra has had a great series, including the two clutch hits today, said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. "Coming on the heels of such a serious injury, it warms your heart to see that young man playing at such a high level without being hesitant or tentative."

Reynolds started on the mound for the Gold and scattered three hits over three innings while allowing one run.

"I thought Reynolds and (Purple starter) Brent Bonvillain both pitched well and competed hard," Mainieri said. "Reynolds touched 93 miles per hour on the radar gun and did a nice job of working out of some jams."

Bonvillain, a senior left-hander, worked three innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with one strikeout.

The Purple opened the scoring in the top of the first when junior outfielder Sean McMullen doubled, moved to third on freshman outfielder Andrew Steveson's single and scored when senior first baseman Mason Katz delivered a sacrifice fly.

The Gold tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame when freshman outfielder Mark Laird singled, advanced to second on a groundout, moved to third on an infield error and scored when freshman shortstop Alex Bregman grounded into a double play.

The Gold regained the lead in the second when sophomore outfielder Jared Foster singled, moved to second on sophomore outfielder Tyler Moore's sacrifice bunt and scored on Sciambra's RBI single to left field.

The Purple tied the contest again in the top of the fourth when junior infielder Christian Ibarra launched a solo homer.

The Gold responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Moore walked and scored on Sciambra's double to left.

The Gold increased its lead to 4-2 in the fifth when Bregman doubled to left-center and scored on Moore's RBI single.

The Purple will start sophomore left-hander Cody Glenn on the mound in Game 3 on Friday, while the Gold will counter with junior right-hander Kurt McCune.