OREM, Utah – Team Green defeated Team Black, 17-6, in the first game of the Wolverine World Series on Wednesday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark. Kaden Carpenter and Hunter Katschke each hit two home runs to lead Green in the series opener.
 
Black nearly took a two-run lead in the top of the first inning, but Mason Hamlin's diving catch on a liner from Jet Jones kept the game scoreless. Green capitalized in the bottom half, erupting for nine runs in the inning. Run-scoring hits from Chipper Beck and Will Applegate got things started before Beck added his third RBI of the frame with a two-run single. Katschke capped the inning with a two-run homer to left field.
 
Black cut into the deficit in the third inning when Jimmy De Anda and DJ Massey reached on walks and advanced on a balk. New Mexico transfer Cooper Brass lined a single to right field to plate both runners and make it 9-2. Green answered quickly in the bottom half as Carpenter homered before Applegate launched a two-run shot to right, extending the lead to 12-2.
 
The power surge continued in the fourth with home runs from both Carpenter and Katschke, pushing the lead to 15-2. Arkansas transfer Trenton Rowan hit a solo homer for Black in the fifth, but Carpenter added a two-run double in the home half—just missing his third home run of the day—to make it 17-3.
 
Black showed some late fight in the sixth. Derek Houston had a strong day at the plate with three hits, including a triple to deep center field. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Rowan, and Brody Block later singled home two more runs to cut the deficit. Brass followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position, but Naun Haro recorded the final out to secure Green's 1-0 series lead.
 
Team Green will look to clinch the series on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 2:05 p.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. Regardless of the outcome, the teams will wrap up the Wolverine World Series on Friday, Oct. 31, also at 2:05 p.m.