The Bulldogs battled the Elkins Knights to a 3-3 draw on the Knights wind-whipped home field on Thursday night, bringing their District 23 record to 1-2-1.

In the low-scoring battle that saw a combined total of only 6 hits by both teams, it was a few defensive lapses by the Dawgs that allowed the Knights to score 3 unearned runs to draw even after a late inning rally by Austin that gave the visitors a brief lead.

The scoring began in the bottom of the first inning when the Knight's leadoff batter hit a deep fly ball that was bobbled by the Austin outfielder in the tough windy conditions, allowing the runner to advance to scoring position. He would later score on a passed ball after being moved to third on another fly ball.

It was déjà-vu all over again in the bottom of the second inning, when the Knights leadoff batter would reach second base by virtue of a fielding and throwing error by the Dawgs third baseman. After being bunted to third, the runner would score on a daring steal of home before P James Sullivan ended the inning with the first of his four strikeouts.

Trailing two to nothing entering the sixth inning, the Bulldogs offense would finally come alive after being held to only 1 hit through the first five innings and advancing only one runner into scoring position. Leading off the inning, Sullivan would rip a triple to the right-center field wall. CF Tyler Whitaker would follow, working a bases loaded walk, with Sullivan scoring during the at-bat on a passed ball.
Whitaker would steal second base and move to third on a balk by the Kinghts hurler, allowing 2B Jared Boyle to drive in a run on a fielders choice when Whitaker deftly slid to avoid the tag at home, Boyle moving to second on the throw. LF Brock West followed with the Dawgs second free pass of the inning, and would be followed by C Chris Millers single to short center field to load the bases. SS Cody Brown would continue the inning with a run scoring fielders choice which plated Boyle for the third run of the inning.

The Knights would escape further damage in the sixth inning, and held the Bulldogs scoreless in the seventh as the game entered the bottom of the seventh with Austin tenuously nursing a one run lead. The Knights began the inning with their leadoff batter reaching first on the fourth Bulldog error of the game. He would score when two batters later the Elkins centerfielder would hit a single to short right field, avoiding the tag at the plate by perhaps the thinnest of margins to tie the score. The Bulldogs would secure the tie, when the final batter was retired on a deep fly ball that RF Chad Henry collected at the warning track to strand the winning run on third base.

James Sullivan provided the Bulldogs with another solid pitching performance, giving up only three hits and no earned runs while collecting four strikeouts over 6-2/3 strong innings. Cody Brown came on to finish the game, inducing the final flyout by the only batter that he would face.

Defensive highlights for the Dawgs would include 1B Eric Abney's two full out stretches at first base to record put-outs, and the combined outfield of West, Whitaker, and Henry who would combine for five put-outs under difficult windy conditions.

Bulldog Offensive Highlights
Hits (3), James Sullivan, Tyler Hopson, Chris Miller
RBI (3), Tyler Whitaker, Jared Boyle, Cody Brown
Extra Base Hits (1), James Sullivan (3B)
Stolen Bases (1), Tyler Whitaker

Bulldog Pitching Highlights
James Sullivan, 6-2/3 Innings, 4 Ks, 2 BBs, 3 Hits, 3 Runs (0 earned)
Cody Brown, 1/3 Innings, 0 Ks, 0 BBs, 0 Hits, 0 Runs (0 earned)

Score by inning:

Submitted by: Allen Miller