Greensboro, NC (10/10/01) - Two-time defending Intrasuad World Series Champion Team Black took advantage of 10 bases on balls and plated six runs in the first three innings for a 6-0 win and a 1-0 lead in the 2001 Fall Classic Wednesday.

First-round draft pick Brad Franklin (pictured) pitched six innings of shutout ball and AJ McCauley threw a scoreless seventh for Team Black as they combined on a seven-hit shutout in Game 1 of the 2001 Intrasquad World Series.

Team Cardinal starter Ciahnan Miller struggled early with the strike zone, and Team Black executed the rare triple steal in the first as Team Black jumped out to a 3-0 lead. After walks to AJ McCauley and Tim Huie to open the game, Miller seemed to be wiggling off the hook as he retired Zach Whicker on strikes and McCauley was thrown out at third, but back-to-back singles to opposing pitcher Brad Franklin and Joe Dooley, followed by walks to Conrad Smith and Adam Comstock scored two runs and set the stage for one of the rarest plays in baseball. When leftfielder Dan Ludwig was pushed off the plate by an inside fastball, there seemed to be some confusion as to whether he had been hit by the pitch. Baserunners Dooley, Smith, and Comstock moved up as though Ludwig was hit, and Team Black catcher Nick Black inexplicably failed to tag Dooley.  Home plate umpire Mike Goettler never made the hit batsman call and all runners were declared safe.

Team Cardinal retaliated in the bottom of the first as Steve Danis singled to lead off the frame and Nick Black drew a one- out walk. Franklin picked Danis off for the second out and Anthony Ramakis grounded to short to end the threat.

Team Black added one in the second and two in the third as Miller struggled but avoided the big inning. Franklin, on the other hand, got stronger as the game progressed, allowing but one runner in each of the second through fifth innings and a perfect sixth before giving way to McCauley. Team Black tallied their final run off Zach Morgan in the fifth as Huie drove in McCauley following his two-out double.

Team Cardinal was visibly frustrated, as Miller was ejected following an umpires call in the late innings.  Danis made remarks insinuating that shortstop Morgan may pitch every inning for the rest of the series. Black seemed to be the most levelheaded of the Team Cardinal management team. 

"I don't know why I didn't tag Dooley, I guess I thought the ball hit Ludwig. But the problem today wasn't umpiring, it was our approach. I saw it in Team Cardinal when we beat them last year, and it's something we've got to get over before tomorrow. No wonder (Eric) Pelletier retired after the series last year, these guys are hard to handle."

Team Black maintained professional quiet with its victory. Co-manager Whicker said, "That's a good win, and we expect to throw Dooley in Game 2, but we're one loss away from an even series. Nick will rally his troops and they will play hard tomorrow, so we've got to take the game to them if we're going to keep the advantage." 

Team Black's Huie had another take on the first game win. "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," was his response to the question, 'What do you think was the key to victory today?"

Ramakis starts Game 2 for Team Cardinal, but has been largely inactive this fall coming off a tired arm last spring. There seems to be some question as to whether he can make the distinction between baseball and volleyball. When asked his best pitch, Ramakis answered "jump serve," leaving Team Black hitters hoping his offerings look like the inflated variety he took in Tuesday as Duke struggled at home to defeat Wake Forest, 3-2, in an ACC match.

Dooley's start for Team Black may be the key to the series. If he wins, Team Black has a nearly insurmountable 2-0 lead, but if he loses, they are without their top gun for the remainder of the series. "I feel good," said Dooley. "I copied some stuff off the Internet yesterday that should really be beneficial. I faced this situation many times last year in Japan, and every time we had Chinese food delivered to the room after the game. I love sauerkraut."

Game 2 is slated for a 3:00pm start on Thursday, under blue skies and 72 degree temperatures.