Bulldogs Gallop Past Mustangs, 8-4

The Austin Bulldogs Sophomore team was worth waiting for Saturday, as they completed play in the Katy Tournament by besting the Memorial Mustangs 8-4, to finish with a 3-0-1 record.

The visiting Mustangs would score first as their leadoff batter singled and later scored.  Starting P Sean Stacy would prevent further damage by striking out the fifth batter in the order to strand a runner at third.

The Bulldogs failed to score in their half of the inning and would hold the Mustangs scoreless in the top half of the second.  The Dawgs would tie the score in the bottom of the second, after Stacy was hit by the Mustang Hurler leading off the inning and moved to third when C Brian Martin’s dropped a double down the third base foul line just behind the third baseman.  3B Bo Sheridan would bring Stacy home with a lined single into left field.  The Bulldogs were unable to pile on any additional runs, leaving the score tied at 1 after 2 complete.

With Stacy working ahead in most counts, Memorial was retired without scoring in the third while the Bulldogs were able to add two runs to their total.  2B Matt McQuillen began the inning with a free pass.  CF Chris Miller drove McQuillen home with a sharp double to the wall in left center, and scored himself on a wild pitch.

Memorial tied the game in the top of the fourth as their leadoff batter doubled to left center field, moving to third on a bunt single by the Mustang first baseman and scoring on an errant Bulldog throw.  After moving the runner to third base, the second run of the inning was scored on a ground ball.  The Dawgs were unable to add any runs of their own, and the fifth inning began with the score knotted at 3.

Stacy retired the Mustangs in order in the top of the fifth, and the Bulldog bats came to life in the bottom half of the frame.   With one out in the inning, RF Sean Pringle began the offensive barrage with a single to right center field.  1B Eric Abney followed Pringle with a single to straight away center.  After a wild pitch would move both Dawgs up 90 feet, Stacy helped himself with an RBI single of his own, Abney also coming home on the play aided by an error by the Mustang first baseman.  Martin singled to right field, and both Stacy and Martin were moved into scoring position with a single by Sheridan, the fifth consecutive single in the inning by Austin.  Stacy and Martin both scored in the inning, courtesy of a pair of Mustang wild pitches to bring the run total to 4 in the inning, and giving the Bulldogs a 7 to 3 lead after 5.

With Bo Sheridan now pitching for Austin, the Mustangs would add one run in the sixth, Sheridan striking out the top batter in their order to end the inning.  The Bulldogs would add an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, as Miller accepted a leadoff walk and was moved to third base on a line drive single to left center field by Pringle; a wild pitch eventually allowing Miller to cross the dish.

Moving to the top of the seventh, Sheridan struck out the leadoff batter on three pitches before the Mustangs would put a runner on with a single to center.  Any thought of a rally was quenched on the next play, however, as SS Sean Stacy moved to his left and fielded a hard hit grounder directly behind second base, stepped on the bag  and then fired the ball to 1B Eric Abney to complete the double play and send the team off to Whataburger happy!

Bulldog Offensive Highlights

• Hits (15), Brian Martin (3), Chris Miller (2), Sean Pringle (2), Eric Abney (2), Bo Sheridan (2), Pablo Maldonado (2), Brady Langston (1), Sean Stacy (1)
• RBI (3), Chris Miller, Sean Stacy, Bo Sheridan
• Extra Base Hits (3), Chris Miller (2x2B), Brian Martin (2B)

Bulldog Defensive Highlights

• 3B Bo Sheridan making a nice over the shoulder catch behind third base on a wind blown high pop-up to end the second inning
• SS Brady Langston making a diving snag directly behind second base, throwing from his knees to 1B Eric Abney to nip the Mustang runner in the third inning
• 1B Eric Abney with a circus catch of a foul ball half way down the right field foul line
• P Bo Sheridan fielding a hot shot up the middle, feeding C Brian Martin with the throw as Martin applied the tag on the Memorial runner trying to score from third base in the sixth inning
• Game ending double-play turned by SS Sean Stacy and 1B Eric Abney

Bulldog Pitching Highlights

• Sean Stacy (WP), 5 Innings, 4 K’s, 1 BB’s, 6 Hits, 3 Runs (3 earned)
• Bo Sheridan, 2 Innings, 3 K’s, 1 BB’s, 3 Hits, 1 Runs (1 earned)

Submitted by: Allen Miller