The Bulldogs evened their record at 2-2 in the Katy Tournament, ending a long day by beating the host Mayde Creek Rams 7-3.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the first inning, with a one-out single by CF Daniel Rockett, a stolen base, and a two-out smash single up the middle by LF Blake Doerr. Mayde Creek countered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning off of Bulldog Starter Scott Duncan. That lead didn’t last long, as the Bulldogs knotted the score at 2 in the second on a single by 1B Eric Schweiger, a double by RF Tony Gigliotti, and a smash by SS Barrett Barnes to 3B that was too hot to handle, allowing Schweiger to score.

The Bulldogs would take control in the third, with a 3-run burst. A leadoff walk and two passed balls put 2B Ryan Dalton at third base. RF Blake Doerr traded places with him on an infield hit and a two-base throwing error that rolled into the right field corner. After a walk to Schweiger, another passed ball plated Doerr with Schweiger taking third with some heads up base running. A groundout to first by Gigliotti brought in the third run of the inning, making the score 5-2.

The Rams put some pressure on in the fifth. Back-to-back leadoff walks, a sac fly, and a pinch single put a run on the board and the tying runs on base, but Duncan, who logged an effective 5-inning outing, escaped further damage by getting the next batter to hit a comebacker for a 1-5-3 double play.

The Bulldogs would add a couple of insurance runs in the sixth. A single by Gigliotti, a fielder’s choice by P Scott Duncan, and a ground-rule double down the left field line by C Drew Miller put runners at second and third. With two outs, Rockett collected his second hit of the night (and fourth extra-base hit of the tournament) with a triple to left center to score pinch runners Austen Smith and Eric Hughes.

Eric Schweiger came on to pitch two innings of scoreless relief for the Bulldogs, facing the minimum 6 batters. He put his defense to work, getting a great play in the hole at short by Barnes, a line out to CF Rockett, a foul popout caught in traffic at the screen by C Matt Hills, and a foul popout to first snagged by Miller. For good measure, he also notched a couple of strikeouts.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 9 hits for the Bulldogs: 3 singles by LF Blake Doerr; a single and a triple for CF Daniel Rockett; a single and a double for RF Tony Gigliotti; a double for C/1B Drew Miller; and a single for 1B/P Eric Schweiger.

· 6 RBIs on the game: 2 for Doerr, 2 for Rockett and 1 each for Gigliotti and SS Barrett Barnes.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Scott Duncan (1-0), 5 innings, 2 K’s, 6 BB’s, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned run.

· Eric Schweiger, 2 innings, 2 K’s, 0 hits, 0 runs.

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· A 6-4-3 double play to end the third, Barnes to Dalton to Schweiger.

· Rockett turned on the radar to track down a shot to center for the first out in the fourth.

· A 1-5-3 double play to end the fifth, Duncan to Mulcahey to Schweiger.

· Great pick up & throw from deep short, Barnes to Miller for a 6-3 putout in the sixth.

· C Matt Hills pulls down a tough foul pop near the screen to end the sixth.

Winning Pitcher: Scott Duncan (1-0)

Losing Pitcher: Tyler Wright

Extra Base Hits, FBA: 3B Rockett, 2B Gigliotti, 2B Miller