Bulloch Academy won both convincingly and dramatically Monday as the Gators swept a doubleheader from Curtis Baptist High School.
In the opener, BA took advantage of some early-inning pitching problems and also collected 14 hits to blast the Crusaders 18-6.
In the nightcap, the Gators pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to nip Curtis Baptist 6-5. The victories improve Bulloch to 3-2 on the season.
With the score tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the frame, Taylor Burke drew a lead-off walk from CB starter Cam McConnell. Michael DeLoach then waited out four balls to put runners on first and second.
The Crusaders then changed pitchers, opting for James Cole. But Matthew Sapp welcomed Cole to the hill with a sharp single in the gap between shortstop and third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Curtis Baptist drew its infield in, hoping to cut down the possible winning run at the plate. But Win Lee’s hot shot between second and short was bobbled by CB’s shortstop, allowing Burke to race in from third to score the winning run.
Bulloch starter Walker Blitch masterfully scattered just three hits through 61⁄3 innings while striking out two and allowing no walks. But with one out in the seventh, the Crusaders jumped on Blitch for one run on three hits to knot the score at 5-5 and chase him from the mound. Savannah Christian transfer Matt Simons pitched out of a jam in the final 2⁄3 of an inning for the win.
In the finale, DeLoach led the BA offense, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Sapp was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
CB took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame but the Gators answered back with two runs on hits by DeLoach, Sapp and Lee and a walk from Burke. Bulloch went up 4-1 in the second. Ethan Lovett reached on a CB error and Burke drew a walk. DeLoach’s first double to the gap in right-center scored both.
The Crusaders scored three in the fourth to knot the score at 4-4 but the Gators pushed across a run in the fifth for the 5-4 lead. In the inning, DeLoach doubled, stole third and scored on Sapp’s ground-out to third.
In the opening contest, the Gators scored nine runs in the first two innings on just three hits.
CB starter and losing pitcher Ethan Robinson had a shaky start, issuing six free passes in two innings of work, while the Crusader defense also made three errors. The Gators brought nine batters to the plate in both innings. BA starter and winning pitcher Davis Howell had hits in the first, second and third innings and Taylor Burke had hits in both the second and third innings. Howell was 3-for-3 with five RBI and also got his first-ever varsity victory. Burke was 3-for-4.
The Crusaders got two back in the third on James Cole’s two-run blast over the left-field fence but Bulloch scored three more in the bottom of the inning for a 12-2 advantage.
Howell had control problems in the fourth, walking four batters and hitting another, while giving up four runs. Clay Anderson came on in relief, giving up another run (12-7) before getting the final out and staying on the mound to finish the game for the save.
The Gators added two in the bottom of the fourth for a 14-7 advantage and two more in the bottom of the sixth.
Bulloch Academy hosts Region 2-AA foe Frederica Academy today at 4 p.m. and travels to Stillmore Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. battle with David Emanuel Academy.
In the opener, BA took advantage of some early-inning pitching problems and also collected 14 hits to blast the Crusaders 18-6.
In the nightcap, the Gators pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to nip Curtis Baptist 6-5. The victories improve Bulloch to 3-2 on the season.
With the score tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the frame, Taylor Burke drew a lead-off walk from CB starter Cam McConnell. Michael DeLoach then waited out four balls to put runners on first and second.
The Crusaders then changed pitchers, opting for James Cole. But Matthew Sapp welcomed Cole to the hill with a sharp single in the gap between shortstop and third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Curtis Baptist drew its infield in, hoping to cut down the possible winning run at the plate. But Win Lee’s hot shot between second and short was bobbled by CB’s shortstop, allowing Burke to race in from third to score the winning run.
Bulloch starter Walker Blitch masterfully scattered just three hits through 61⁄3 innings while striking out two and allowing no walks. But with one out in the seventh, the Crusaders jumped on Blitch for one run on three hits to knot the score at 5-5 and chase him from the mound. Savannah Christian transfer Matt Simons pitched out of a jam in the final 2⁄3 of an inning for the win.
In the finale, DeLoach led the BA offense, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Sapp was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
CB took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame but the Gators answered back with two runs on hits by DeLoach, Sapp and Lee and a walk from Burke. Bulloch went up 4-1 in the second. Ethan Lovett reached on a CB error and Burke drew a walk. DeLoach’s first double to the gap in right-center scored both.
The Crusaders scored three in the fourth to knot the score at 4-4 but the Gators pushed across a run in the fifth for the 5-4 lead. In the inning, DeLoach doubled, stole third and scored on Sapp’s ground-out to third.
In the opening contest, the Gators scored nine runs in the first two innings on just three hits.
CB starter and losing pitcher Ethan Robinson had a shaky start, issuing six free passes in two innings of work, while the Crusader defense also made three errors. The Gators brought nine batters to the plate in both innings. BA starter and winning pitcher Davis Howell had hits in the first, second and third innings and Taylor Burke had hits in both the second and third innings. Howell was 3-for-3 with five RBI and also got his first-ever varsity victory. Burke was 3-for-4.
The Crusaders got two back in the third on James Cole’s two-run blast over the left-field fence but Bulloch scored three more in the bottom of the inning for a 12-2 advantage.
Howell had control problems in the fourth, walking four batters and hitting another, while giving up four runs. Clay Anderson came on in relief, giving up another run (12-7) before getting the final out and staying on the mound to finish the game for the save.
The Gators added two in the bottom of the fourth for a 14-7 advantage and two more in the bottom of the sixth.
Bulloch Academy hosts Region 2-AA foe Frederica Academy today at 4 p.m. and travels to Stillmore Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. battle with David Emanuel Academy.
