Bulldogs salvage week with another walk off win

The ECI baseball team was involved in their second extra innings game in the young season Friday. Just like the extra inning game against Swainsboro, the Bulldogs got off the deck against Southeast Bulloch, with a walk off win, 3-2.

The Bulldogs began the week in Savannah, Tuesday taking on Savannah Christian. They dropped a close one to the always tough Red Raiders, 5-4 for their first loss of the season. The Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after the Bulldogs left the bases loaded in the first inning. With two outs in the second inning the Bulldogs knotted the game at 2-2 after Tuff Boddiford laced a double to center to score Davis Johnson and Kanyon Thompson. The Bulldogs loaded the bases for the second time during the game in the fourth and this time made it count, scoring two to take a 4-2 lead. Christian tied the game in the fifth 4-4 on a couple of singles and a double, then took the lead for good 5-4 with a runner on third on a throw down to second. The Bulldogs edged the Raiders in hits 5-4. Gabe Lee started the game for ECI pitching 3-2/3 innings allowing no hits with one strikeout. Jackson Kennedy relieved Lee giving up 4 hits with a strikeout.

On a cold windy Thursday, the Bulldogs hosted Oglethorpe Co. at Joe Harvey Field in their second home game of the season. For the second game in a row, the Bulldogs out hit their opponent only to come up short on the scoreboard. The Patriots avenged their 8-4 loss to the Bulldogs last season, with a 5-2 win. The Bulldogs gifted the Pats 3 runs in the first inning on 3 walks and a couple of singles to take an early 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs got on the board in the fourth. Jud Underwood, on after a one out walk, scored on an Ab Marsh single to make the score 3-1 Patriots. Oglethorpe scored two more runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 5-1. Tuff Boddiford hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence to make the final score 5-2. Boddiford and Jackson Kennedy were the multiple hit Bulldogs during the game with 2 each. Bryson Thompson started the game for the Bulldogs toeing the rubber for 3-2/3 innings giving up 3 hits and 7 walks, with 6 strikeouts. James Parker pitched an inning with zeros across the board with a strikeout. Davis Johnson closed out the game giving up 2 hits and 2 walks in the final two innings.

The Bulldogs hosted Southeast Bulloch to close out the week on Friday, winning the game in the eighth inning 3-2. SEB took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning before the Bulldogs changed the score. Gabe Lee led off the fourth with a triple and crossed the plate on a Jackson Kennedy ground out with the Jackets still leading, 2-1. The scrappy Bulldogs tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Neither team found the plate in the eighth to take the game into the nineth inning. Gunnar Johnson got into scoring position in the bottom of the nineth on a one out double to left. Lake Bush moved Johnson to third on a single. Davis Johnson hit a sac fly to center field one batter later for a walk 3-2 win for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs out hit another opponent, this time making it count with Gabe Lee leading the Bulldogs with 2 hits. Four other Bulldogs ended the game with singles. James Parker, Jud Underwood and Tuff Boddiford allowed just 4 hits from the mound, striking out 10 Jacket batters.

The Bulldogs have a rematch with Southeast Bulloch on Thursday in Brooklet. Yesterday they opened up region play in Metter taking on the Tigers and will end the week hosting Metter at Joe Harvey on Friday.