A close game early started looking like a route before turning back into a close game, as the Bulldogs built an 8-0 lead before letting the Friendswood Mustangs off the hook and eventually settling for a 10-10 tie.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the first, courtesy of a lead-off double by SS Barrett Barnes, and back-to-back fly balls by CF Daniel Rockett and 3B Ryan Dalton. The Bulldogs would add to that lead with a run in the second on a ground ball and stolen base by RF Eric Hughes, an infield hit by DH Drew Miller, and Barnes’ second hit of the day. 2B Luke Mulcahey got things going again in the 4th with a lead-off double to right, and he came home on the third hit in three trips for Barnes, a home run to left, to make the score 4-0. The route was on in the fifth, as the first four Bulldogs reached base and scored – a double by Dalton, a walk to LF Blake Doerr, a run-scoring single by 1B Eric Schweiger, and a blistering single to center by C Matt Hills. Hills motored around to third when his hit eluded the center-fielder, and it appeared the Austin dugout was disappointed coach held him at third. The Friendswood pitcher, though, finished the task with a wild pitch to score pinch-runner Austen Smith to make the score 8-0.

That seemed to be more than enough runs at the time, considering how well starting pitcher Clint VanTilborg was doing on the hill. He faced only 16 batters through four innings, logging three strikeouts and getting a couple of nifty double plays. He started the first one in the first with a comebacker to the mound for the 1-4-3 twin killing, and the Bulldogs turned one the hard way, with a fly out to CF Daniel Rockett who through a strike to 3B Ryan Dalton to get the runner trying to advance. In the fifth, a lead-off double by Mustang CF Forest Allday followed by two groundouts put the first run on the board for Friendswood, leaving them in the hole 8-1 after five.

Things started to unravel in the sixth. Back-to-back leadoff walks and a one-out single loaded the bases, and a liner to second notched the second out of the inning. With two outs, things got ugly, as the Mustangs staged an improbable 5-run 2-out rally. A hit batter and a grounder past first base for a two-base error put across 3 runs and put an end to VanTilborg’s 5-strikeout outing. Relief pitcher Erik Schweiger was victimized by an infield hit to reload the bases, and two full-count walks pushed across the last two runs of the inning to make it 8-6.

The Bulldogs would get two of those runs back in the top of the seventh. An infield error on Schweiger’s grounder and Hills’ blast off the center field wall put runners at second and third with nobody out. Mulcahey then launched a shot into the left center gap, that CF Allday made an absolutely fabulous diving catch on, turning a sure two-run double into a sacrifice fly. Miller would come through with a two-out double down the left field line to bring in the last Bulldog run of the game, and make the score 10-6.

Unfortunately, the Mustangs weren’t done. Schweiger started the inning with a single, a walk, and an infield error to allow one run to score. Allday (who else?) then doubled in another run and chasing Schweiger. Rockett came in to finish it off, but surrendered a two-run single to tie the game before setting down the side. An uneventful tie-breaker inning was played, and the Bulldogs’ first pool game in the Alvin Yellowjacket tournament ended in a 10-10 tie. The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday with games against Mayde Creek and Pearland – two wins would leave the Bulldogs no worst than tied for first in their bracket.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights:

· 11 hits for the Bulldogs, including 7 for extra bases: HR, double, single for SS Barrett Barnes; a double and a single each for C Matt Hills and DH Drew Miller; a double each for CF Daniel Rockett, 3B Ryan Dalton, and 2B Luke Mulcahey; and a single for 1B Erik Schweiger.

· 8 RBIs on the game: 3 for Barnes, 2 for Hills, and 1 each for Schweiger, Mulcahey, and Miller.

Bulldog Pitching Highlights:

· Clint VanTilborg, 5.2 innings, 5 K’s, 7 BB’s, 1 HPB, 3 hits, 6 runs, 2 earned runs

· Erik Schweiger, 0.1 inning, 0 K, 3 BB’s, 3 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs

· Daniel Rockett, 2 inning, 0 K, 0 BB, 1 hit, 0 runs

Bulldog Defensive Highlights:

· After giving up a lead-off single, P Clint VanTilborg gets a next-pitch comebacker for a 1-4-3 double play, VanTilborg to Mulcahey to Schweiger

· With runners on first and second, and one out in the second, P Clint VanTilborg needs another double play and gets it on a fly-ball out to center, and a tagout at third on the runner trying to advance, Rockett to Dalton.

· Great effort by 2B Luke Mulcahey to keep a ball on the infield with a diving stop in the seventh.

Starting Pitcher, FBA: Clint VanTilborg

Starting Pitcher, FWD: Schulze

Extra Base Hits, FBA: HR – Barnes; 2B – Barnes, Rockett, Dalton, Hills, Mulcahey. Miller

Extra Base Hits, FWD: 2B – Allday (2)

Score by inning:

Submitted by: Tom Miller