Bulloch Academy pitchers Lauren Dennard and Madelyn Vickery were strong on the mound Monday, combining to give up just one hit in an 8-0 run-rule win over David Emanuel Academy.
    Dennard, a junior, struck out four batters in three innings of work while Vickery, a sophomore, struck out three in two innings. Bulloch touched the Lady Eagles for six hits including an Amelia Akins triple and doubles from Dennard and Ashlee Lanier.
    Bulloch (1-0) scored a single run in the second, three runs in the third and four in the fourth for the victory. Lanier, a sophomore, went 2-for-2 to lead the Lady Gators.
    “Ashlee was our big hitter this past weekend,” said BA head coach Chandler Dennard, referring to her performance in the team’s appearance in the annual Windsor Academy preseason tournament in Macon. “She continues to hit the ball well. It was good to see Amelia get the bat on the ball.”
    The Lady Gators battled stiff competition in the weekend games, going toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the GISA. Bulloch went 2-2-1 and came in third.
    But Monday, the Lady Gators didn’t get out of the gate well.
    “We were flat in the early innings,” said Dennard. “I was a little disappointed because we had had such a great tournament. But we came alive in the third and fourth innings, putting the ball into play and moving base runners.”
    One reason may have been the absence of team leader Taylor Collins. The senior, who is a legitimate college prospect, was attending SOAR at Georgia Southern University.
    Bulloch hosts Class AAA foe Stratford Academy Thursday and then hosts the annual Bulloch Bash tournament Friday and Saturday at Georgia Southern.