Dawgs Down Mavericks, 2-1

The Austin Bulldog Sophomore team opened up the Katy Tournament with their first win of the season Thursday night, beating the home-standing Morton Ranch Mavericks by the score of 2-1 behind seven strong innings of pitching by Matt McQuillen, error-free fielding and some timely power from their bats.

After neither team was able to mount a threat in the first two innings, the Dawgs would get on the board in the top of the third with a two-out rally that began with SS Sean Stacy singling down the first base line and moving into scoring position when the Morton Ranch right fielder failed to field the ball cleanly.  CF Chris Miller came to the plate and stroked a triple out to left center field, hitting the 365 foot wall with one bounce.  1B Eric Abney would keep the rally going with a double out to left center field, collecting an RBI on the at-bat that saw Abney foul off several two-strike pitches.

The Mavericks were kept at bay all evening as P Matt McQuillen dominated their lineup, breezing through five innings without letting a single runner advance into scoring position on a night that saw McQuillen throw 52 of his 72 pitches for strikes while collecting 6 strikeouts.

Morton Ranch attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth when their lead off batter began the inning with a triple to left center field.  After striking out the next batter, McQuillen induced a line drive out to Stacy, who would turn and fire the ball to 3B Bo Sheridan to nearly complete the double play; the runner just beating the throw in the opinion of the only one that really matters.  The shutout bid was foiled on the next pitch when the Maverick’s number 3 batter laced a double to the gap in right center.  A ground ball ended the threat in the sixth inning, and the Dawgs retired the Mavericks in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory, 2 to 1.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a double header on Friday night out at Mayde Creek.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights

• Hits (8), Sean Stacy (2), Sean Pringle (2), Bo Sheridan (2), Chris Miller, Eric Abney
• RBI (2), Chris Miller, Eric Abney
• Extra Base Hits (2), Chris Miller (3B), Eric Abney (2B)

Bulldog Defensive Highlights

• LF Sean Pringle making a dazzling running catch on fly ball to short left field in the third inning
• CF Chris Miller snaring a fly ball in the right-center field gap in the fourth inning
• SS Sean Stacy and 3B Bo Sheridan teaming up for the bang-bang double play that almost was
• 1B Eric Abney going into the hole behind first base, beating and colliding with the base runner at the bag to end the rally in the sixth inning with the tying run on third base

Bulldog Pitching Highlights

• Matt McQuillen (WP), 7 Innings, 6 K’s, 0 BB’s, 5 Hits, 1 Runs (1 earned)

Submitted by: Allen Miller