Bulldogs claim two more wins

By WRBL Staff

Published: March 17, 2008

The Marianna Bulldogs keep racking up wins with two more victories this week, a 3-2 ninth-inning district win over Bonifay and a 2-0 win at home against Bainbridge last week.

In Thursday night’s match up, Kyle Edwards took the mound for the Dogs, giving up no runs on three hits and three walks. Edwards was relieved in the seventh inning with one out by Jeremy Barber and a runner on first.

The first batter flied to Troy Clemmons in right field and Barber fanned the final batter to preserve the win and pick up the save. Only two runners were allowed to advance past first base throughout seven innings of play, the first coming on a two-out walk, followed by a single in the fifth inning. The Bulldog defense aided Edwards in the sixth inning when a lead off walk advanced to third on consecutive passed balls.

Lance Bailey made a running catch at the first base line to rob a hitter and save a run, with Edwards setting the next batter down swinging. The final out came on a grounder back to the mound, leaving the runner stranded at third and no runs crossing the plate.

Offensively, the Bulldogs picked up their first run of the game in the bottom half of the first inning. Dustin Miller beat out a bobbled ball at short and advanced to second on a single by Brandon Gardner.

A walk to Adam Bigale loaded the bases. Brandon Booth sacrificed Miller home. Bigale was picked off at first for the second out of the inning. Clemmons was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners but a fly out to centerfield ended the inning.

In the second inning, with two outs, Laramie Dryden took one for the team but was left stranded when the next batter ground out to first.

The Bulldogs added their final run of the game in the third inning. Gardner scored after leading off with a walk and advancing to third on a single by Bigale. A walk to Brandon Booth loaded the bases. Clemmons hit into a fielder’s choice that got Booth at second but scored Gardner. A strikeout and a ground out ended the inning with two runners left on base.

Lance Bailey started the fourth inning with a single and moved to second when Gardner drew a walk with two outs. A strikeout ended the inning. Booth drew a walk to get things started in the fifth inning but with two outs, Dustin Larkin hit into a fielder’s choice that got Booth at second.

Marianna traveled to Bonifay Tuesday night for its first district game of the season. Clemmons got the nod on the mound for the Dogs, going five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one error with one walk. Rhyne Elliott came on in relief, giving up no runs on three walks. It was the Bulldog defense in the sixth inning aiding the pitching with a pick off of a runner at second on a throw from Colby Johnson behind the plate. Elliott had seven groundouts to the infield and two strikeouts in three innings of work.

Offensively for the Bulldogs, Bigale and Clemmons both singled in the first inning with Sims reaching when he was hit by a pitch but no runs were plated.  Two runs scored in the second inning.

With one out, Miller singled and moved to third on a single by Elliott. Elliott was out going to second. Tyler Wilson singled and Gardner was awarded first when he was hit by a pitch and Bigale’s single scored two.

Miller’s fourth inning lead off walk provided the only offense for the four innings. In the seventh inning, Booth doubled but the next three batters were retired in order. Sims and Bailey both drew walks in the eighth but no runs scored.

The game was decided in the top of the ninth inning. Dustin Miller led off with a single and following two outs, Gardner reached on a bunt putting runners at first and second. Bigale singled with Miller crossing the plate for the game-winning run.

Marianna will be back in action on Tuesday at Bulldog Field when they host the Chipley Tigers in their second district match up. First pitch is slated for 6:30.