Hunt Warriors Punish Bulldogs

By Kent Wheeless

iHigh Correspondent

Wilson - The Bulldogs visited Wilson Hunt on Thursday with a chance to take the lead in the Big East conference but came home feeling like bad dogs as they were pummeled 15-0 in a five inning contest. Caley Bass produced the only hit of the night for the Bulldogs as she bunted to lead off the fourth.

Lindsey Sharpe started the contest for the Bulldogs and was tagged for nine earned runs including six in the third inning without an out before she was lifted for Grayson Bass. Bass did not have much better luck as she yielded six runs in the two innings of work.

The Warriors produced two runs in the first inning on three hits but looked like they could have a problem as their star starting catcher Amber Parish twisted her ankle coming home and had to be helped from the field.  She left shortly thereafter with the help of coaches and training staff. The Bulldogs then turned a double play to halt the Warrior attack. The Bulldogs went in order as Morgan Farmer recorded the first two of her six strikeouts for the night.

In the second the Warriors started the inning with two outs but then Sharpe walked substitute catcher Courtney Davis. Taylor Barbee reached on an error, then a hit by Crystal Fulgham scored Davis but Barbee was thrown out trying to stretch to third base on the throw to the plate. In the Central half Brittani Strickland led off and reached on a pass ball third strike but was left stranded as the next three Bulldogs went down.

The third inning for the real undoing for the Bulldogs as the first six batters for the Warriors all produced hard hit balls including a double by Natalie Crocker that plated two runners. After Tiffany Parrish's single following the Crocker double coach Gary Smith was out to make the switch and bring in Bass to pitch. Two of the first three batters Bass faced grounded out with only Barbee reaching on a error, but then Bass gave up a single and a triple before getting Farmer to pop up for the third out. The damage was done as the Warriors led 11-0.

In the top of the fourth Caley Bass lead off with the bunt single but was quickly erased as Sharpe hit into a fielder's choice then the next two batters went in order.

The Warriors batted around in the bottom of the fourth with six hits and four runs as the frustrated Bulldogs seemed to be in shock by the bombardment that they were experiencing.

In the fifth Rachel Pearce was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning but the Bulldogs could produce no more offense and Pearce was stranded as the game ended 15-0.

The Bulldogs drop to 11-2 for the season and 3-1 in Big East play and will try to bounce back next Tuesday as they visit the Southern Nash Firebirds to end the first half of the conference season.