Patriots, Wolves defeat Bulldogs
SPRINGDALE — The Decatur Bulldog baseball team had two away games on the schedule for the week before spring break March 15. Up first was a trip to Lincoln to tackle the Wolves in a conference contest at Wolves Ball Park Thursday night. Then it was on to Springdale Friday night to face the Providence Academy Patriots at Tyson Sports Complex, the home of the Patriots.
In the Lincoln ball game, the Wolves took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Decatur countered with a run in the second, cutting Lincoln’s lead to two. But the Wolves brought home two runs in the bottom of the second and three in the third to extend its lead to 8-1.
The Bulldogs went on a fiverun stretch in the top of the fourth to pull to within two of Lincoln But three runs in the bottom of the fourth, combined with four in the fifth and two in the sixth, put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs. Decatur scored one more run in the fifth but it would not be enough and the Lincoln Wolves took the conference win, 17-7, over the Decatur Bulldogs.
Decatur had 22 at-bats for the night, scoring seven runs on one hit and one RBI with 14 walks and 10 strikeouts.
Tyler Burchette scored one run in the second and one in the fourth, while teammates Zac Luker, Curtis Lauber, Mason Potter and Bryson Funk also scored runs in the fourth. Owen Wilkins chalked up the run in the fifth.
Burchette was on the mound for the Bulldogs, pitching two complete innings and delivering 54 pitches. He allowed eight runs on one hit, four earned runs striking out two, and walking five. He was replaced by Luker in the top of the third, lasting 3.2 innings and throwing 86 pitches. He allowed nine runs on eight hits, three earned runs, while striking out seven and walking three.
Heavy rain on Wednesday night and Thursday forced a change in venue for the Bulldog game against the Providence Academy Patriots. Field conditions forced head coach J.C. Dorsey and athletic director Jacque Smith to move the game from Edmiston Park in Decatur to the Tyson Sports Complex in Springdale.
From the start, the Patriots took control of the game, scoring three runs in the first, five in the second, two in the third and seven in the fourth, while shutting out the Bulldogs’ batting game. Providence Academy took the win, 17-0, over Decatur.
The Bulldogs only had 12 atbats with no hits, no runs, two walks and nine strikeouts.
Luker was on the mound once again, lasting 3.2 innings and delivering 107 pitches. He allowed 15 runs on six hits, five earned runs, while striking out three and walking six, with one home run. Bryson Funk relieved Luker to finish .1 innings. He threw 17 pitches, allowing two runs, two hits and walking two.