The Bulldogs 2008 season looked to be off to a great start, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after two innings. Starting pitcher Caleb McKinney cruised through the first 4 innings, allowing 1 unearned run and only four baserunners. Though tiring, he took the mound again in the 5th and got two quick outs before issuing back-to-back full-count walks to the top of the Mavericks order, followed by a run-scoring hit. Andrew Keplinger came on in relief and was greeted by 2 straight hits that gave the Mavs a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs came back to tie the game at 5 in the top of the 6th on a triple by Ryan Dalton and a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Aaron Marcynuk. Keplinger pitched a scoreless 6th and turned the ball over to Dalton to handle the 7th. With runners on the corners and 1 out, the Mavs pulled a double-steal, with the Mavs’ R.J. Cruz sliding in with the winning run, just beating the tag (maybe) of ‘Dogs catcher Drew Miller.

Offensive highlights:

· Shortstop Scott Viktorin paced the Bulldog 12-hit attack with 3; 2 hits were notched by left fielder Adam Shank, third baseman Ryan Dalton, and center fielder Tony Gigliotti; and count a mark in the hit column for DH Kyle Garoni, first baseman Ben Fairbanks, and catcher Drew Miller.

· One RBI each for Viktorin, second baseman Barrett Barnes, Gigliotti, and PH Aaron Marcynuk.

Pitching highlights:

· Caleb McKinney went 4 2/3 innings, 4 K’s, 2 BB’s, 4 runs, 3 earned runs.

· Andrew Keplinger went 1 1/3 innings, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 earned run.

· Ryan Dalton went 1/3 inning, 1 earned run, and took the loss.


Score by inning: