Bulldogs fall to Montgomery Academy in extra innings, 6-5

The Andalusia Bulldogs came back from two runs down in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, but ultimately fell to the Montgomery Academy Eagles, 6-5.

Andalusia took the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Riley Cravey got things started with a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a bunt by Asher Bentley. A single by Row Thorn put runners at the corners and a walk to Landen Butler loaded the bases with one out. Following a strikeout, Kielan Davis earned a walk to force Cravey home and Thorn scored on a passed ball to the following batter, making the score 2-0.

Montgomery Academy got on the board in the top of the third when a single and consecutive errors made the score 2-1.

The score remained unchanged until the top of the fifth when Montgomery Academy tied the game on a couple of singles.

After a walk and single in the top of the sixth, a fielding error led to two runs coming across for the Eagles, giving them their first lead of the game, 4-2.

Andalusia fought back in the bottom of the seventh and tied the game to force extra innings. Cravey got things going with a single to left field. A walk to Thorn put runners at first and second. Following an infield fly for the second out of the inning, Grover Wells hit a hard grounder to left field, scoring Cravey and cutting the lead to one, 4-3. Davis followed with another clutch hit for the Bulldogs, earning a single to left that brought home Thorn for the tying run.

Neither team could get a run across in the eighth, but three consecutive singles to begin the ninth put Montgomery Academy back on top, 5-4. Two batters later, another Eagle crossed home plate on a ground ball, putting Andalusia in a two-run hole, 6-4.

Looking for another comeback, Andalusia’s Asher Bentley got things going in the right direction with a walk to start the bottom of the ninth, but was out at second on a fielder’s choice as Thorn took his place at first. A hard grounder by Landen Butler was mishandled by the Eagle defense, putting runners at second and third. A grounder for the second out at first moved both runners into scoring position. Consecutive walks, the first to Davis that loaded the bases, and a second to Connor Ray would force home a run to put the Bulldogs only one run behind, 6-5, with the bases loaded. But, the comeback fell short as the Eagles secured the final out on a groundball.

Davis pitched five strong innings for the Bulldogs, giving up two earned runs on five hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Asher Bentley pitched the final four innings for the Bulldogs, surrendering four runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

The Bulldogs had seven hitters get hits in the game. Davis went one-for-two with three walks and two RBI. Ray and Wells each had one RBI for Andalusia.

Andalusia 14, Greenville 0
Andalusia bounced back on Thursday with a big win on the road at Greenville, 14-0, an identical score when the two teams met on Monday.

Three singles to start the game and a double by Charlie Walsh lifted the Bulldogs to a quick 5-0 lead. A triple by Riley Cravey made the score 8-0. One more run came across in the top of the first when Asher Bentley’s single increased the lead to 9-0.

A fielding error aided the Bulldogs with two more runs in the top of the second.

Andalusia kept the offense going in the top of the third. Bentley and Thorn led off the inning with consecutive singles. Then, three consecutive doubles off the bats of Ocean Reeves, Row Thorn, and Will Dalton made the score 14-0.

Greenville failed to score as the game was called at the end of the third due to the 10-run rule.

Cravey started on the mound for the Bulldogs, surrendering two hits and recording three strikeouts in two innings of work. Walsh pitched the final inning, striking out one.

Bentley led the offense with three hits and scored two runs.

The Bulldogs are 7-6-1 on the season and will play Excel on Monday, March 24, at 3:45 p.m., in Opp’s Butch Youmans Spring Break Tournament.