The second half of district play continues to be a repeat of the first half for the Bulldogs, as they swept their third consecutive district opponent by hanging on to beat the Tigers 3-2 in a close and exciting game at Travis High School. Another excellent performance by Starting Pitcher Robert Psenka earned him his first victory of the year, as the Bulldog offense pushed across just enough run support to get him the win. Reliever Ryan Dalton came in to seal the deal for his third save. Special thanks to our spirited student section who came out to support the team and cheer on our boys.

It was another slow start offensively tonight, as the Bulldogs couldn’t break through in the run column the first three innings, stranding five runners who reached on a single (by LF Adam Shank), 3 walks, and an error. Meanwhile, the Tigers were purring along quietly themselves until they broke through for a run in the bottom of the third. Crafty C Jordan Camel laid a bunt single left-handed up the third base line, and proceeded to steal second. Tiger Starting Pitcher Abel Flores then helped out his own cause by slapping a single into right-center to score Camel to make the score 1-0 after three innings. That would be the only run Psenka would allow in his 5 quality innings on the mound.

The Bulldogs responded to that run with a pair of their own in the top of the fourth. C Drew Miller singled into the hole at short with one out, and moved up to second when 1B Benn Fairbanks was hit by a pitch. CF Tony Gigliotti came through for the third game in a row, taking a 1-2 pitch to right center for a single to score Miller, and Fairbanks scored as well when the ball was mishandled by the right fielder. That put the Bulldogs up 2-1.

The Tigers threatened to score in their half of the fourth, getting a runner to third with one out. Psenka cranked it up a notch and struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Another threat was brewing in the fifth, when Tiger RF Rowe dropped a bunt single down the third base line, and ended up at third on Camel’s one-out double. Psenka then pulled another Houdini act, assisted by some great glove work by his defense -- Flores lined out hard to Fairbanks at first for Out #2, and 3B Jace Koonce foul-tipped strike three into Miller’s mitt to end the fifth.

The Bulldogs would add an insurance run in the sixth. 2B Andrew Keplinger stroked the first pitch from Flores into left center; CF Michael Warren got caught playing a little shallow, and the ball slipped by him and went to the wall for a triple. Miller then cashed in by turning on the first pitch he saw, knocking it down the third base line past a drawn in infield for an RBI single, making the score 3-1.

That run would prove to be the difference in the game. Ryan Dalton came on in relief of Psenka to start the sixth. After two quick strikeouts, Dalton was the benefactor of some stellar glove work as well, as 2B Keplinger tracked down a foul pop-up down the right field line on a full sprint to end the inning. Dalton would start the seventh inning with another two strikeouts before things got interesting. Tiger SS Clay Tucker smashed one down the third base line too hot for 3B Viktorin to handle; he would come around to score on Camel’s second double of the night to right. With the tying run at second, Dalton bore down and got Flores swinging to end the game and wrap up the win for the Bulldogs.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a weekend double header, with a home game Friday night against Marshall, and a Saturday afternoon game at Hightower.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 6 hits for the Bulldogs, 1 for extra bases: two singles each for LF Adam Shank and C Drew Miller; a triple for 2B Andrew Keplinger; and a single for CF Tony Gigliotti.

· 2 RBIs on the game: One each for Gigliotti and Miller.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Robert Psenka (1-2, 1-0), 5 innings, 4 K’s, 0 BB, 7 hits, 1 earned run.

· Ryan Dalton (Save #3), 2 innings, 5 K’s, 0 BB, 1 hit, 1 unearned run.

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· A couple of great foul catches – one by C Drew Miller in the second inning in front of the Bulldog fans, and one by 2B Andrew Keplinger up the right field line to end the sixth inning.

· 1B Benn Fairbanks caught a screaming line drive to prevent extra bases and save two runs in the fifth inning.

Winning Pitcher: Robert Psenka (1-2, 1-0)

Save: Ryan Dalton (3)

Losing Pitcher: Abel Flores

Extra Base Hits, FB Austin: triple for 2B Andrew Keplinger

Extra Base Hits, Travis: two doubles for C Jordan Camel