Emanuel County Institute won one and lost one last week, falling to Southeast Bulloch on Wednesday and defeating Tattnall on Wednesday.
The first of last week’s two games seemed evenly matched as both the Dawgs and the Yellow Jackets were strong on the mound. However, it would be Southeast Bulloch’s bats that had the edge, allowing for the close 1–0 victory over ECI.
Lawson Mercer started Wednesday’s game and recorded 18 outs. Southeast Bulloch’s hurler lasted seven innings, barring ECI to 0 hits on 0 runs while striking out 13 and walking none.
Mercer unfortunately took the loss for the Bulldogs, but he lasted six innings. Through those frames, he allowed only 6 hits and 1 run while striking out 7 and issuing just 1 walk.
The ECI Bulldogs were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Jack Walden had the most chances in the field with seven.
Southeast Bulloch totaled 6 hits in the game. Two Jackets had multiple hits, and Southeast Bulloch didn’t commit a single error in the field.
ECI came out against Tattnall County with a chip on their shoulder and used it to their advantage, pummeling the opposing Bulldogs 16–1.
Bryce Kearson wasted no opportunities at the plate on Friday, driving in 4 on 3 hits to lead the ECI Bulldogs past Tattnall County. He drove in runs on a single in the third, a home run in the fourth, and another single in the fifth.
ECI secured the victory, thanks to 9 runs in the fifth inning. Kearson, Walden, Gabe Lee, Charlie Rehberg, Caleb Avery, and Hudson Henry powered the big inning with RBIs.
The Dawgs pulled away for good with 5 runs in the third inning. In the third, Kearson singled on a 1–0 count, scoring 1 run. Rehberg doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring another run. Walden doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring 1 run, and Henry doubled on a 1–0 count, scoring 2 runs.
ECI went on to put up 9 additional runs in the fifth inning. The Bulldog offense in the inning was led by Lee, Kearson, Rehberg, Walden, Avery, and Henry, all of whom drove in runs in the frame.
Joseph Stewart is credited with the victory for ECI Bulldogs. The righthander surrendered 1 run on 3 hits over four innings, striking out 3 and walking 0. Jacob Durden threw 1 inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Tattnall County’s losing pitcher went 4.3 innings, allowing a massive 13 runs on 9 hits while sitting down just 6 ECI batsmen.
ECI tallied one home run on the day as Kearson went yard in the fourth inning. Total, ECI raked in 11 hits on the day. Kearson, Durden, and Henry all collected multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Kearson went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead ECI Bulldogs in hits.
Up this week are Swainsboro on Thursday and Jenkins County on Friday. The Bulldogs also took on Jenkins Tuesday, but results were unavailable as of press time. Look for results in next week’s Chronicle.