Senior Hermiston left fielder Brittany Paulus lunges to catch a fly during Friday's game. It was just one of a number of big plays the 'Dawgs made in a game in which a couple of mistakes made all the difference. Photo by Terry Aichele
Posted Saturday, May 10, 2008
HERMISTON-The Hermiston Bulldogs dropped a tightly played game to Pendleton by a score of 2-0 on Friday afternoon. The single game was the final IMC game of the season for the Bulldogs who will finish the season Monday with a non-conference game at Mac-Hi.
The 'Dawgs (6-8 IMC, 11-14 overall) looked like they might keep their three game winning streak and push their 6 for 8 winning record with a win over the IMC second place Bucks (10-4 IMC, 21-4 overall).
Hermiston started off the bottom of the first by getting leadoff batter senior Katie Walchli on base. Three stikeouts in a row killed any chance of pushing Walchli around the bases.
Katie Walchli made a nice catch in left field in second inning when a fly ball forced her to run back to the fence to make the catch.
The slumbering Bucks came alive in the top of the third rallying with two out. A long hit to center field scored the first Buck run. Then a popup was dropped by Hermiston pitcher Lindzey Ramos which allowed another runner to score. The 'Dawgs were able to hold the scoring to 2-0 and Ramos struck out the last batter.
Katie Walchli was able to bunt safely with two out in The bottom of the third. A heads up play by the Bucks picked Walchil off on a bunt by Amanda Bevington.
The fourth saw the Bucks load up the bases but a ground out to Bevington kept the 'Dawgs within striking distance.
It was three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth for the 'Dawgs as they couldn't get a safe hit.
Lindsey Walchli came in for the 'Dawgs after the Bucks put runners on first and second. Bringing in Walchli moved some other players around the outfield and infield. Walchli was able to get the Bucks out with a popup and grounder back to her for a force out at home.
The 'Dawgs may not have been able to get the offense going in the latter innings but they had some great plays in the outfield which kept the team competitive. The top of the sixth had Brittany Paulus in left field in place of Katie Walchli. In this case the pop fly was dropping rapidly in short left field. Paulus races to get close to it and finally lunges to make the catch for the out.
There was a slight glimmer of hope that the 'Dawgs could get something going in the bottom of the sixth with some bunts. But it just didn't work out. The final score ended up Bucks 2, Hermiston 0.