The Andalusia Bulldogs’ baseball team picked up a big win Monday afternoon with an 8-6 victory over the Headland Rams, but fell in the final game of the series 8-4.

With the win in the first game Monday, the Bulldogs claimed the area series over the Rams before falling in the third game. Andalusia beat Headland last week in Headland for the first area game of the season.

The win moves the Bulldogs to 6-14 overall on the year and 2-1 to start area play.

“We started off with a very tough schedule,” Bulldogs’ head coach Tyler Dent said. “We started the season off 4-13 and our opponents during that stretch have combined for over 80 wins. The guys could have hung their head and given up, but they haven’t done that.”

In the first game Monday against the Rams, the Bulldogs found themselves behind 2-0 in the second inning.

“We kind of came out flat,” Dent said. “We weren’t really making good approaches at the plate.”

The Bulldogs settled in and tied the game in the bottom of the third inning.

“Once we settled down and making good approaches at the plate, we got their pitcher out of rhythm and never trailed after that.”

The Bulldogs got a big night on the mound from starting pitcher Nathan Langley.

“Nathan did a great job of making his pitches,” Dent said. “He threw five strong innings for us and Ethan Wilson came in a threw really well in the last two innings.”

Dent said as the game flow progressed, the Bulldogs plate approaches continued to improve.

“We stayed patient at the plate,” Dent said. “We made their pitcher work and we picked up hits with two strikes. Hitting with two strikes and two outs are some of the things we have struggled with, but I was proud of the way the guys played. We did a lot of damage with two outs during that series.”

One of the biggest moments of the game came when third baseman Will Clark blasted a 3-run bomb to put the Bulldogs on top 8-4.

In the second game Monday, the Bulldogs ended up on the short end of an 8-4 score, but Dent said he was pleased with efforts he saw from his players.

“I think we threw four or five guys in the third game just to get some guys some more work on the mound,” Dent said. “Clay Stephens pitched very well for us. He struck out five guys in two innings.”

Headland’s starting pitcher pitched well in the win for the Rams and also helped himself out at the plate when he delivered a 3-run home run to extend the Rams’ lead.

Defensive miscues were a problem in the second game for the Bulldogs.

“We made too many minor hiccups on defense in the last game,” Dent said. “Nothing major, but things that we can’t continue to due.

“Now we are just getting ready for Straughn later on in the week,” Dent said. “It’s always nice to start area play by winning a series, but now we have to keep this up.”

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Straughn for the first game of the three-game area series with the Tigers. Thursday’s game is set for 4:30.

The Tigers and Bulldogs will play a double-header Friday in Andalusia beginning at 4:30.