Dawgs battle back for tourney win: Sullivan fans eight in 8-4 win
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Pitcher Corey Sullivan went the distance for the Dawgs, allowing just four hits in the win — including two in the final frame which brought in two runs — before striking out his eighth batter of the contest to end the threat.
The win moved the Dawgs on to a second-round matchup with Washington County, which was scheduled for Saturday evening.
Trailing 2-1 after four, Darrid Wells slapped a line-drive single to center field to open the fifth inning, then advanced when Sullivan drew a walk, ending Greenfield starter Colin Medlins’ time on the mound.
Reliever Chris Johnson didn’t fare as well as his predecessor, however, as he gave up a bunt single to Josh Moore to load the bases. With one out and the bases still juiced, Matt Jones came through with a hard grounder that was too hot for Greenfield’s shortstop to handle. Two runs scored on the play, and Jones moved to second on the ensuing throw.
With two out, Kyle Mullican singled to plate Moore, and Clint Newman drove in Jones and Mullican with a base hit to left to give the Dawgs a 6-2 lead.
Warren County added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, as Wells led off with a single, and Sullivan followed with a double to right field. Moore grounded to the Greenfield shortstop, scoring Wells, and an attempt by Greenfield’s first baseman to throw out Sullivan at third went wide of the bag, allowing Sullivan to come in for the team’s final run.
The Dawgs fell behind early, as Greenfield scored single runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, Johnson singled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Medlins.
Cody Richettes singled to open the second inning, and after advancing on a fielder’s choice and a sac bunt, came home on a wild pitch with two outs.
Jones walked with one out in the Dawgs third, and after a single from Lane McCoy and a misplayed fly off the bat of Mullican loaded the bases, Newman drew a base on balls for Warren County’s first run of the game.
Newman finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, while Sullivan and Wells each had a pair of hits and scored two runs apiece. McCoy finished 2-for-4, while Jones had a pair of RBIs and scored two runs. Mullican and Moore had a hit and an RBI each to round out the Dawgs’ offensive output.
Johnson had the only multi-hit game for Greenfield, finishing 2-for-3. Thanos Edmondson and Cody Richettes collected their team’s only other hits.