Looking to avenge an early season loss, the home standing Austin Bulldogs
mounted a furious comeback to defeat the Travis Tigers, 13-12 on Monday night,
scoring seven times in the bottom of the fifth inning to wrestle the victory
out of the jaws of the sabertooths!
The fun began in the first inning, after P Cody Brown held Travis scoreless
and striking out two, when the Bulldogs would jump out to a quick 3 - 0 lead.
Three consecutive hits from lead-off batter and SS James Sullivan, CF Tyler
Whitaker, and RF Brock West would load the bases, setting the stage for an RBI
single to left field by 3B Tyler Hopson and a 2 RBI smash single to left center
field by Brown.
After surrendering just one run in the top of the second, the Dawgs would extend
their lead to 5-1, as Sullivan would get on base with the second of his four
hits of the afternoon, allowing Whitaker to collect two RBIs when he belted
a 3 and 1 fastball over the fence in left center field, tallying the Dawgs first
home run of the season. Congrats indeed, Mr. T-Whit!
Those looking to jump on the Bulldog Bandwagon at that point found that the
wheels were a little wobbly, as Travis would erupt for six runs in the top of
the third inning to take a two run lead, powered by four doubles in their five
hit onslaught that would see the Tigers send ten to the plate in the inning.
The Bulldogs would scratch back for one run in the bottom of the frame, with
the offense again led by Sullivan singling and stealing second base, setting
the table for Whitaker to pick up his third RBI of the game on a run-scoring
single.
The Tigers would continue scoring in the fourth inning, as RF Brad Holmes would
deposit a fast ball over the centerfield wall for the second round tripper of
the game. Cody Brown would give way to James Sullivan in relief in the inning,
who would begin with a strikeout of Travis' number 5 hitter, but a passed ball
on the third strike would allow the runner to reach base and later score.
The Dawgs could mount no threat in the bottom of the inning, and it was looking
bleak when the Tigers would add three more runs to their total in the top of
the fifth, establishing a seemingly comfortable 12-6 lead.
The never-say-die Dawgs, however, would not go quitely into this night. The
rally started when C Chris Miller would be hit on the first pitch of the inning.
DH Sean Pringle would follow with a single to short left field. After a ground
ball to the pitcher turned into the first out of the inning, Sullivan kept his
perfect evening at the plate intact, collecting an infield hit that would plate
Miller. Whitaker would work a full-count walk to load the bases. That would
force the Tigers to their bullpen, as starting Travis pitcher Kyle Coulter would
yield the mound to Dillon Springer. West would greet the new hurler with a walk,
giving West an RBI the easy way. With the bases still loaded, the Dawgs would
plate two more runs, their third and fourth of the inning, when 2B Jared Boyle
would single to left field. Hopson would follow with a 4-pitch walk to once
again load the bases. Brown would single up the middle to plate West, cutting
the deficit to 12-11. Batting for the second time of the inning, Miller would
follow with a hit over the second base bag, plating Boyle with the tying run
and keeping the bases loaded. With the Tiger infield playing in and the outfield
playing it tight, Pringle would come through in the pressure packed situation,
lifting a sacrifice fly ball to left field that was deep enough to allow Hopson
to tag up at third and bring the winning run across the dish and close the scorebook
for the evening.
Defensive highlights for the Dawgs included three fly-ball put outs by CF Tyler
Whitaker, and P James Sullivan picking off a Tiger base runner in the fourth
inning, the tag at second being applied by 2B Jared Boyle.
Bulldog Offensive Highlights
Hits (15), James Sullivan (4), Tyler Whitaker (3), Tyler Hopson (2), Cody Brown
(2), Brock West, Jared Boyle, Chris Miller, Sean Pringle
RBI (12), Tyler Whitaker (3), Cody Brown (3), James Sullivan, Brock West, Jared
Boyle, Tyler Hopson, Chris Miller, Sean Pringle
Extra Base Hits (1), Tyler Whitaker (HR)
Stolen Bases (1), James Sullivan
Bulldog Pitching Highlights
Cody Brown, 3-1/3 Innings, 2 Ks, 2 BBs, 7 Hits, 8 Runs (7 earned)
James Sullivan (WP), 1-2/3 Innings, 2 Ks, 2 BBs, 4 Hit, 4 Runs (3 earned)
Score by inning:
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | LOB |
| Travis Tigers | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | x | x | 12 | 11 | 1 | 8 |
Austin Bulldogs |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
x | x | 13 |
15 | 3 | 8 |