The Bulldogs were back to their winning ways, taking care of the Elkins Knights 6-4 in their morning playoff game in the Ewell Jackson Tournament.

Scoring in the first inning has been the order of the day in Austin’s 3 previous victories, and today was no different. SS Scott Viktorin reached safely on an error by the shortstop, and back-to-back one-out singles by 1B Adam Shank and 3B Ryan Dalton brought in the first run. RF Blake Doerr then made it 3 hits in row in the inning to load the bases. With two outs, Elkins thought they were going to escape further damage with a fly ball to right field by C Kyle Garoni, but the second miscue of the inning for the Knights allowed 2 more runs to score. The Bulldogs struck again in the third inning. Shank and Dalton had back-to-back hits again, this time a double and a homer.

The Knights countered with two runs of their own in their half of the third. Austin Pitcher Benn Fairbanks issued two full-count walks to start the inning, and Elkins was able to work both those runners around with a couple of steals, a sacrifice fly, and a single. Elkins would strike again for a run in the fifth, starting with another pesky full-count leadoff walk. A single and two more walks mixed in with a couple of ground ball outs spelled the end for Fairbanks. Reliever Andrew Keplinger came in with the bases loaded and got a huge assist from LF Aaron Marcynuk who went airborne to snag a line drive smash and end the Knights’ threat.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, courtesy of a leadoff double by Shank and a one-out double by Doerr. Elkins got that run back with a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the inning, but Keplinger set the next three Knights down in order, 2 via strikeout, to earn another save.

Offensive highlights:

· 8 hits for the Bulldogs: 2 doubles and a single for Adam Shank, a HR and a single for Ryan Dalton, a double and a single for Blake Doerr, and a double by Barrett Barnes.

· 6 RBIs on the game, 3 by Dalton, 2 by Kyle Garoni, and 1 by Doerr.

Pitching highlights:

· Benn Fairbanks (1-0), 4 2/3 innings, 3 K’s, 8 BB’s, HBP, 3 hits, 3 earned runs

· Andrew Keplinger, 2 1/3 innings, 3 K’s, 0 BB, 1 hit, 1 earned run; Save #2

Score by inning: