Brantley Bulldogs top Tigers

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 10, 2018

The Straughn Tigers put up a strong fight, but a big fourth inning by Brantley pushed the Bulldogs to a 16-6 victory on Friday afternoon in Straughn.

Brantley went up in the top of the first inning when back-to-back singles to start the game pushed across a run.

Trystian Barber singled to start the bottom of the first and later scored on single from Mitchell Schultz.

The Bulldogs responded in the top of the second inning with a pair of runs to take a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second inning, Chandler Mitchell led off with a walk and advanced to third on a single from Corey Matrullo.

Mitchell and Matrullo moved up on a passed ball and then Barber drove in both runners with a double to left field to tie the game 3-3 heading in to the third inning.

Austin Smith took over on the mound for the Tigers in the top of the third inning and struck out the first batter he faced.

The Bulldogs then got runners on second and third with a single from Bryce Dunn and double from Parker Odom.

Smith got the next batter to ground out, but the Dunn was able to score on the play to put the Bulldogs up 4-3 with two outs in the inning.

Grant Odom followed with a double to put Brantley on top 5-3.

In the top of the fourth inning, Adrian Person singled to start the inning.

Following a walk to the next batter, the Bulldogs drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field.

P. Odom followed with a single and moved to third on an RBI single.

The Bulldogs loaded up the bases when G. Odom was hit by a pitch.

Brantley’s next batter was hit by a pitch to push across another run.

Mack Wise then dealt a crushing blow when he blasted a grand slam over fence in left field to put the Bulldogs on top 13-3.

The next three batters drew walks as the Tigers still searched for the first out of the inning.

A two-run double the gave the Bulldogs a 15-3 advantage.

Brantley added another run to go up 16-3.

Matrullo walked to start the bottom of the fourth inning and then moved off an error.

Barber then came through with a single that allowed Matrullo to score.

Adam Anderson followed with a single to center that brought in another Tiger run.

Straughn continued to battle back when Clay Ashbury ripped a double to left field to score Anderson from second.

However, the Tigers were unable to complete the comeback as the fell 16-6 .

Barber finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Anderson, Ashberry and Schultz drove in one run each.

Wise led the Bulldogs going 1-for-1 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

G. Odom finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.