Dover defeats Bryant, Arkansas; will face West Fargo, North Dakota Friday
BRANSON, Missouri - In Dover's 8-0 shutout win over Hot Springs, Arkansas in the first round of the Cal Ripken World Series consolation bracket, it was a five-run third inning that was the ultimate separator in Wednesday's game.
On Thursday, Dover didn't wait until the third inning to break the game open, jumping on Bryant, Arkansas early with a five-run first inning and holding on for a 7-2 win.
More: Ben Cheek strikes out 10, and Dover advances at Cal Ripken World Series
"It was another really good team win," Dover head coach Mike Lynch said. "It was pretty similar to (Wednesday's game), the kids came out loose and ready to go. Obviously, it makes life a lot easier when you hop on the other team with five runs in the first inning, so that definitely helped relax them. And then we kind of took care of business from there."
Dover will face West Fargo, North Dakota on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Wells Fargo advanced with a 12-2 win over Canada. The winner of the Dover and West Fargo game will then play at 3 p.m. on Friday against either Glen Allen, Virginia or West Raleigh, North Carolina. Both times are EST.
Dover starter Connor Lynch went 1 2/3 innings, allowed two runs on two hits, and struck out one, while Cam Stowell went 4 1/3 innings, allowed three hits and struck out three.
Ben Cheek and Owen Lovering each doubled in the first inning to set the tone. Cheek had three hits, drove in one and scored a run, while Lovering had two hits, scored two runs and drove in one. Lucas Grigas (run) and Brady Flynn (RBI) also had one hit.
Additionally, Stowell walked twice, drove in one and scored a run, while Trey Longuil, Rhett Reed, Matthew Maroon and Slayter Saucier all had one walk.
Bryant scored single runs in the first and second innings. Dover went scoreless in the second and third, but added an insurance run in both the fourth and fifth innings.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover beats Bryant Arkansas in Ripken World Series consolation bracket
