ANDY FALLS IN PITCHING DUEL: Late runs push Enterprise past Bulldogs
Published 12:05 am Friday, March 8, 2019
- Brennan Strong was big on the mound for the Bulldogs. Josh Dutton/Star-News
The Andalusia Bulldogs gave a solid effort, but came up short in a 2-0 loss to the Enterprise Wildcats on Thursday night in Andalusia.
Andalusia’s Brennan Strong got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs and worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the first inning.
Strong’s counterpart for the Wildcats was equally strong on the mound as he sat the Bulldogs down in order in the bottom of the first inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Wildcats got a leadoff base hit for the first runner of the game.
The baserunner didn’t last long as he tried to swipe second.
Andalusia’s Hogan Nichols came up firing and hosed the speedy runner for the second out of the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Wildcats got a 1-out walk to get things started.
The next batter hit a screaming line drive to center, but Caleb Blackston raced over to make the catch and keep the ball from finding the gap.
After giving up a 2-out single, Strong froze the next batter on a 3-2 curveball for the final out of the frame.
In the bottom of the third inning, Ayden Amis drew a 2-out walk for Andalusia’s first baserunner of the game.
Gill Morgan followed with a single for the first Andalusia hit of the game.
Garrett Davis put a charge into a ball, but the Wildcats’ center fielder was able to track down the ball to end the third inning.
Strong continued to pound the strike zone as he retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jacob Cravey scorched a 1-out hit, but was then thrown out attempting to steal second.
Strong went back to work in the top of the fifth inning with a strikeout to start the frame.
The Wildcats then picked up a single, but Strong followed that up with a strikeout and a line out to end the frame.
Andalusia got a little something going in the bottom of the fifth inning when back-to-back errors gave the Bulldogs runners on first and second with one out.
However, the next batter pushed one down the third-base line where the Wildcat third baseman picked up the ball, stepped on the bag, and threw to first for an inning ending double play.
Enterprise got a single to start the top of the sixth inning and then a 1-out walk put them in business.
The next batter singled to drive in the first run of the game and put an end to Strong’s night on the mound.
Morgan came in and got a quick ground out, but the Wildcats were able to plate a run on the play to go up 2-0.
Andalusia continued to fight, but were unable to bring a run around to score.
“I thought Brennan (Strong) threw well,” Andalusia head coach Tyler Dent said. “We played good defense, but obviously we didn’t do a good job at the plate because we didn’t score. That was a big problem. Like I told Brennan, he threw a heck of a ball game, but we have got to be better 0-2 (All four Enterprise hits came on an 0-2 count), but we have to score. That’s a big problem. We got to find ways to score, find ways to fight a strikeout and find ways to get on base a little more.”
Dent said there were a couple of plays that the ball just didn’t bounce the Bulldogs’ way.
“Noah Kelley is a foot away from a double and the first baseman makes a great play,” Dent said. “Ayden Amos is a foot away from a double that scores two runs. The ball just didn’t bounce our way, but we have to do our jobs as individuals. This isn’t an individual game, but we have to do our job when it’s time to do our job.”