The Harts Bluff baseball program is getting tantalizingly close to picking up the program’s first win. Three of the team’s last four games have been decided by three runs or fewer as the team looks to rid itself of the zero in the win column.
Last week, the Bulldogs traveled to Pittsburg to take on the Pirate JV. Harts Bluff battled back from an early 3-0 deficit but fell short, 4-2. The Bulldogs managed to claw back into the game despite being no-hit on the afternoon.
Hunter Green and Collen Hosterman scored runs for the Bulldogs and Cayden James added an RBI. Alec Dunn held the Pirates to two hits and struck out six.
The Bulldogs then hosted Avery. Avery jumped out to a 9-1 lead, but Harts Bluff scored eight times in the top of the fourth to tie things up. Avery responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame and held on in a battle of Bulldogs, 14-11.
Jacob Lilly finished 1-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Cohen Williams went 2-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. James went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cameron Erwin scored twice and Dunn, Jayden Morales and Layken Adair all scored once.
Harts Bluff finished with 11 stolen bases – two each by Hosterman, Williams and Joey Bell and one each for Adair, Dunn and James.
Williams struck out four on the mound and Juan Garcia added two strikeouts.
Harts Bluff traveled to Sulphur Bluff and played two games against the Bears and Ector. Against Sulphur Bluff, the Bulldogs battled but fell just short of the win, 8-7.
Courtlynn Maples finished 2-3 with three RBIs for the game. Williams and Erwin also finished with hits. Williams, James and Lilly each scored twice and Dunn scored once and finished with an RBI.
The Bulldogs stole 10 bases – two each from Dunn, Erwin, Lilly and Williams and one apiece for James and Garcia.
Hosterman and Dunn combined for four strikeouts. Against Ector, the Bulldogs had a rough first inning as the Eagles scored 14 runs in the first inning and picked up a 19-4 win. Harts Bluff scored four times in the second and third but the Eagles added another five in the final inning.
Maples finished 2-2 with an RBI for the Bulldogs. Erwin went 1-1 with two RBIs. Williams scored twice; Dunn and James each scored once.
Morales finished with two strikeouts and Lilly added a strikeout.
The Bulldogs traveled back to Sulphur Bluff Tuesday and will open district play Friday at Linden-Kildare.