The Bulldogs continued their winning ways in the Katy Tournament, handing a 12-8 defeat to the host Seven Lakes Spartans in the first half of a double-header on Friday Night.

The visiting Dawgs wasted no time in jumping out to an early lead, by putting 5 runs on the board in their first at-bat. The scoring began after CF Tyler Whitaker singled to left field and promptly stole second base, the first of two stolen bags he would have this game. SS James Sullivan followed with a shot that the Spartans short stop could not handle, erring on the play and allowing Whitaker to bring home the first run. C Chris Miller followed with an RBI to left field, plating Sullivan. After DH Sean Pringle walked on four pitches, 3b Jared Boyle singled to center field to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Miller to score the third run of the inning. With two down, RF Chad Henry laced a single to center field, driving in both Pringle and Boyle to complete the scoring.

The Spartans fought back in the bottom half of the first, scoring their speedy LF and lead off batter Goodrum. After retiring the Bulldogs in the second inning, the Spartans would add a couple of more runs, aided by two Dawg errors in the bright sunshine, and would add another run in the bottom of the third inning to close the gap to 5-4.

The Bulldogs revved up the bats again in the 5th inning, pushing three runs across the plate. The inning began with Whitaker being awarded first base after being plunked, then being driven home by Sullivan who laced a triple to the centerfield wall. Sullivan would later score on an RBI single by Miller who would later score himself courtesy of an RBI by Boyle to expand the lead to 4 runs. The pesky Spartans would score one of their own in the bottom half of the inning, as the bottom of their order came through until P Cody Brown, who pitched 5 strong innings, ended the threat by striking out last batter that he would face for the evening.

The Bulldogs would add another run in the sixth inning, as lead off batter and 2B Brandon Guillen drew a walk, advanced to second on a stolen base and was plated by Miller, who collected his third hit of the night.

Heading into the seventh inning with a four run lead, the Dawgs added three insurance runs as Boyle had a lead off hit, followed by a walk to Henry and a single by 1B Eric Abney to load the bases for Guillen. Guillen wasted no time driving in Boyle with a single, and Whitaker did the same scoring Henry on the play. The run production was completed by P Gerardo Hernandez who drove in Abney to extend the lead to seven runs.

Refusing to quit, the Spartans produced three consecturive hits in the bottom of the inning which would turn into three more runs added to their total. The Dawgs tightened up their defense at that point, and secured the victory when Boyle made a nice play, handling a hard shot to third and recording an unassisted put-out with two Spartans aboard to give the Bulldogs the victory.

Defensively, the Dawgs made some spectacular plays; two by P Cody Brown who deftly fielded a hard comebacker to retire the Spartans in the bottom of second inning and strand a runner at third base, and later made a nice play on a no-out bunt with runners on the corners when he shoveled the ball to C Chris Miller who applied the tag to retire the runner trying to advance from third on the play. LF Andrew Sciba continued his solid outfield play, recording three put-outs in the game on well hit balls.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights
Hits (13), Chris Miller (3), Tyler Whitaker (2), Jared Boyle (2), Chad Henry (2), Brandon Guillen, James Sullivan, Sean Pringle, Eric Abney
RBI (10), Chris Miller (3), Chad Henry (2), James Sullivan, Gerardo Hernandez, Brandon Guillen, Tyler Whitaker, Cody Brown
Extra Base Hits (1), James Sullivan (3B)
Stolen Bases (5), Brandon Guillen (2), Tyler Whitaker (2), Jared Boyle
Bulldog Pitching Highlights
Cody Brown (WP), 5 Innings, 4 Ks, 2 BBs, 5 Hits, 5 Runs (3 earned)
Gerardo Hernandez, 2 Innings, 0 K, 1 BBs, 5 Hits, 3 Runs (3 earned)

Score by inning:

Submitted by: Allen Miller