March 5, 2009

Box Score

BROWNWOOD, Tex. - The Bulldog baseball team evened their season record at 2-2 after a 7-6 loss at Howard Payne on Thursday. Adrian trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the fifth when Howard Payne scored three times to take a 4-0 lead.

Adrian scored twice in the sixth to cut the lead in half. Andrew Anderson had a pinch hit double to left center to start the inning. Brian Bilius had an RBI single to right which scored Anderson with the Bulldogs' first run. Bilius advanced to second on a passed ball and with two outs, Kyle Strawn smacked an RBI single to left to make it 4-2.

HPU scored three times in the bottom half of the seventh and looked to be on cruise control up 7-2 going into the ninth. Just as was the case last year, the Bulldogs always seem to have one last rally in them and they nearly sent the game into extra innings.

Strawn had an infield single to start the rally and pinch hitter Nate Clark drew a walk to put two men on with no outs. Joe Dubina had a pinch hit single to left and the bases were loaded. Michael Herzog reached on an error at second base and each player moved up one base to cut the lead to 7-3. Chris Kerekes hit into a key double play which ended up scoring Clark from third to get Adrian within 7-4 with two outs.

Anderson worked a two-out walk and both he and Dubina moved up a base after a wild pitch as Dubina crossed the plate to make it 7-5. Alex Cowart singled to right and runners were on the corners. Anderson scored and Cowart advanced to second on another wild pitch and the tying run was in scoring position. Ethan Nowak grounded out to second to end the game.

On the mound it was Alex Webster who took the loss going the first five innings and allowing six hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts. Adam Standal pitched the sixth inning and allowed a walk with no hits. Matt Tuttle gave up two earned runs and two hits in the seventh. Craig Steadman shutdown Howard Payne in the eighth allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

Evan Henson got roughed up in the ninth for HPU giving up three hits and four earned runs with two walks. Billy Ray Cruz got the win going six innings allowing six hits and two earned runs with two walks and five punchouts.

Bilius finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Strawn collected two base hits in four at-bats with a run scored and an RBI. Adrian played the game without leadoff man Todd Meyers and second-hole hitter Nate Sarkissian.