The Andalusia Bulldogs swept the Holtville Bulldogs in the third round of Class 4A state playoffs to advance to next week’s semifinal.

GAME ONE

ANDALUSIA 13,

HOLTVILLE 7

In the opening game, Andalusia used the long ball to knock off Holtville 13-7.

Andalusia took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Sebaskin Stallworth drove in Garrett Davis with a single.

In the top of the second inning, Andalusia’s Jacob Cravey struck out the side.

Chip Morgan got a double to start the bottom of the second inning and came into score when Davis was hit by a pitch with bases loaded.

Hogan Nichols followed with a towering grand slam to put Andalusia up 6-0.

“I was fired up,” Nichols said after the game. “We were struggling to hit the ball hard at the beginning of the game, but I was finally able to get a hold of one.”

Andalusia moved the score up to 8-0 when Ethan Wilson homered to start the bottom of the fourth inning.

Will Clark drove in Stallworth to make the score 9-0 after four innings of play.

Holtville got a run back when Hunter Martin belted a solo home run to start the top of the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, Drew Nobles crushed a three-run home run to make it 9-4.

Cravey then got a ground out and strikeout to end the frame.

Davis drew a walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning and came around to score on double from Nichols.

A few batters later, Clark doubled to give the Bulldogs a 12-4 lead.

Holtville got three runs in the top of the sixth inning, but Andalusia held on for a 13-7 game-one victory.

GAME TWO

ANDALUSIA 4,

HOLTVILLE 0

In the final game of the series, Wilson was able to out duel Nobles to give Andalusia a 4-0 victory.

Wilson led off the game with a walk and then stole second base.

With one out in the inning, Nichols hit a chopper to second for an easy out, but Wilson came speeding around third to try and catch Holtville off guard.

The Holtville first baseman fired the ball to the plate and Wilson was tagged out for the final out of the inning.

On the mound for the Bulldogs, Wilson struck out the first two batters he faced on the way to a 1-2-3 inning.

The Bulldogs got another base runner when C. Morgan drew a walk, but Andalusia was unable to move him around to score.

Nobles singled with one out in the bottom of the second inning and Holtville brought in Brylan Shaffer as a courtesy runner.

Wilson struck out the next batter and then Shaffer attempted to steal second.

Nichols fired a seed down second base for the final out of the inning.

Both pitchers continued to fire strikes and the game remained scoreless through six innings of play.

C. Morgan led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to put Andalusia in business.

After J.W. Jones dropped down a sacrifice bunt, Nobles walked then next three batters to put Andalusia on top 1-0.

Davis then singled to put Andalusia up 3-0.

Nichols then drove in Wilson with a sacrifice fly to give Andalusia a 4-0 lead.

Wilson worked around a lead-off double and then a walk to close out the 4-0 win.

“I knew we were going to score and I was just waiting on it to happen,” Wilson said. “I told them to just give me one run and they got me four. I love this team. Every time I pitch I just try to give it everything I have for them.”

After the game, Wilson said he is looking forward to his third fourth round appearance, in three sports, this year.

“It’s a great feeling that never gets old,” Wilson said. “This time, it’s time to win. I’ve lost two times in two other sports in the fourth round and it doesn’t feel good. This time I’m just focused on winning.”

Andalusia head coach Tyler Dent said he was thrilled with the wins.

“The first game was a marathon,” Dent said. “We were a run a way from the run rule and we just couldn’t get that last run. We kind of had to refocus up late in the game, which was probably good for us. Game two, we knew it was going to be a pitchers’ duel. We kept grinding and kept grinding.”

Andalusia will be back in action next Friday when they travel to Bibb County for the fourth round of the playoffs.