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Asher Bentley threw a five-hitter as Andalusia dispatched Excel, 11-0, in five innings at home in varsity baseball action on Monday, March 10.

The Bulldogs evened their record at 4-4-1 with the win, while the Panthers dropped to 2-11.

Excel got hits from Holden Stacey and Cayden Chandler in the first. Bentley seized momentum back with two strikeouts for a scoreless opening frame. Andalusia loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a single from Bentley. Grover Wells also took a free pass and drove home Riley Cravey for a 1-0 lead after one inning.

The Panthers once again put the first two runners aboard in the second, but a strikeout and two pop-ups left them empty-handed. Kielan Davis started a two-out rally with a single before Cravey and Row Thorn walked. This time, Greyson Nettles kept the score 1-0 after two innings.

Bentley continued to bring the heat with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 third. Davis then connected for a two-out, two-run single and plated Sawyer Hardy and Brock Bennett for a 3-0 lead after three innings.

Reggis Shamberger had a one-out single for Excel in the fourth but was left stranded. Thorn and Bentley led off the bottom half with back-to-back singles before Thorn was thrown out at second. Connor Ray and Hardy walked and loaded the bases with two outs. William Grimes emptied the bases with a three-run double as Andalusia took a 6-0 lead after four innings.

The Panthers mustered only one hit in their half of the fifth, while the Bulldogs erupted for five runs and ended the game early. Hardy knocked a two-out, two-run double and plated Reeves and Wells widening the lead to 8-0. Brayden Ware sent the home crowd into a frenzy and launched a three-run walk-off homer for the final tally.

Bentley finished 3-for-4, while Davis was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Grimes was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Hardy went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs, and Ware finished 1-for-2 with a run and three RBIs. Bentley earned the win with five shutout innings and struck out five.

After playing Straughn on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs will travel to Slocomb on Friday, March 14, with game time set for 6:30 p.m.