With the bases loaded and Boiling Springs down two runs, Bulldogs hitter Will Holmes hit a bat to deep centerfield that took the Byrnes centerfielder all the way to the outfield wall but the ball didn't have quite enough to go over the fence as the Rebels came away with a 2-0 victory in the first round of the 5A playoffs on Friday night.
Boiling Springs started the game out strong as the first twelve outs of the game came from strikeouts off the arm of Bulldogs pitcher Tristan Smith, who recorded thirteen strikeouts in his five innings of work. In the top of the fifth inning Byrnes was able to get runners at first and second base when Rebels hitter Hunter Lancaster hit a single to right field but a great throw from Bulldogs right fielder Will Holmes nailed a Rebels runner at the plate to keep the game scoreless. Bulldogs reliever Carter Sloand came on to pitch in relief of Smith in the sixth inning striking out four batters over the sixth and seventh innings keeping the Rebels off the board, including pitching out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs in the top of the eighth inning runners at first and second base, the Bulldogs thought they had gotten a called third strike but the pitch was called the other way. As it goes in situations like that, on the very next pitch Rebels hitter Grayson Selepes dropped a hit between three Bulldogs fielders that just missed the diving glove of one of those defenders to score Kadan Roach giving the Rebels a 1-0 lead. Carson Cassidy made it a 2-0 lead in favor of the Rebels when he scored on a single to left field by Mason Fulmer. In the bottom of the eighth inning Jimmy Rosengrant worked a walk to start the inning before moving to second two batters later when Avery Stewart was hit by a pitch. Davis Starnes moved both runners up one base on a single to right field to load the bases. After a Bulldogs strikeout it came down to Holmes at the plate and with his at-bat he hit the ball as far as a ball can be hit to centerfield without leaving the park. While Smith and Sloand had strong nights on the mound for the Bulldogs, Byrnes also got a strong night from their starting pitcher Gabe Rogers who pitched seven and a third innings without allowing a run while striking out seven Bulldogs batters. Rogers picked up the win for the Rebels while Connor Kuhne faced the last two Bulldogs batters to pick up the save for the Rebels. Boiling Springs will host Northwestern on Monday night while Byrnes will travel to Hillcrest, who defeated Northwestern 5-3 on Friday night. Comments are closed.
|
Our Sponsors
If you would like to join us as a sponsor please contact us at: [email protected]
Archives
October 2023
Categories |