Bulldogs break away for 10-4 win over Opp
Published 2:45 pm Tuesday, February 28, 2023
- Parker Adams takes a swing against in Andalusia’s 10-4 win over Opp. Adams finished the game with three hits and scored two runs. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
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Andalusia and Opp stayed close in a baseball matchup Friday night, but a five-run sixth inning lifted the Bulldogs to the win, 10-4.
Andalusia took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the first. Parker Adams hit a double and came in to score on a ground ball. Consecutive singles by Cody Walsh and Garrett Blackston put runners on first and second for Jack Lathrop who doubled to bring in pinch-runner Cade Cassady while Blackston moved to third. Opp pitcher Andrew Danford got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundball with the Bulldogs holding a 2-0 lead.
Opp got things going in the top of the second with a lead-off double by John Helms and Terry Davis reached on a catcher interference call. A fielder’s choice put runners at the corner. Another ground ball scored Helms to make the score 2-1 before Jake Coon got a strikeout for the final out.
Andalusia went down fairly quietly in their half of the second.
Opp took the lead in the top of the third with the assistance of errors. After consecutive walks, an error allowed Nelson Hall to score the tying run and put runners at first and third. Another error brought Danford home as Opp took a 3-2 lead.
Andalusia threatened in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded, but Danford threw consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
The score didn’t change until the bottom of the fourth when Andalusia tied the game on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cody Walsh.
Opp got consecutive singles in the top of the fifth, but a double play ended the scoring chance.
In the bottom of the sixth, with Coon and Lathrop already on base, Dylan Jackson swatted a triple to right field, lifting Andalusia to a 5-3 lead.
Opp cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth when Nelson crossed home.
The Bulldogs took control of the game in their half of the sixth inning. After a first-out strikeout, Andalusia hit three consecutive singles, resulting in Adams coming in to score. An error allowed Riley Craver and Walsh to come home as Andalusia extended its lead to 8-4. Blackston would add to the lead, scoring on a passed ball and Lathrop scored on a double by Coon. Opp escaped the inning with ground ball outs, but the Bulldogs left the inning with a 10-4 lead.
Walsh finished the game on the mound for the Bulldogs with three consecutive outs, including a game-clinching strikeout.
Coon got the start for Andalusia, going three innings and Walsh pitched the final four innings, earning the win.
Lathrop led the offense, going 3-of-4, with one RBI and scoring twice. Adams and Cravey each had three hits. Walsh and Jackson each had two RBI.
Opp used three pitchers in the game. John Helms had two hits, including a double and scored.
The win improved Andalusia’s record to 5-0. On Saturday, they moved to 6-0 with an 11-2 win over Luverne.
The loss dropped Opp’s record to 1-3.