Posted Friday April 9, 2010

HERMISTON - The Hermiston Bulldogs moved to 8-1 overall, 4-0 in conference action with their 8-1 win over The Dalles Wahtonka Eagle Indians on Thursday, April 8, 2010. It was the fifth home win for the Dawgs this season. It was blustery and bitterly cold afternoon at Weber Field. The temperature was 43F degrees with a wind that gusted to 20 mph making it feel much colder. Tim Rude got the start for the Dawgs but was replaced by Jacob Almaguer in the top of the second.

The Dalles Wahtonka started of the first inning getting two runner on base then a grounder to right field scored a run. The next score for TDW came on an attempted pick off of a steal at second that allowed the runner on third to score. With the Eagle Indians leading 2-0, a hit to center field drove in another run. Rude then struck out the next two batters.

Jacob Almaguer of Hermiston led off the bottom of the first with a homerun over the centerfield fence. Hermiston then filled the bases with Vaughn Hawkins, Jeremy Holden and Tim Rude. Brad Morton with a full count hit a grounder to the shortstop who threw wide at first base scoring Hawkins and Holden. That tied the score at 3-3. Courtesy runner Trevor Phillips then scored on a passball giving Hermiston the 4-3 lead at the end of the first.

Hermiston started the bottom of the second inning on a roll. Almaguer hit a grounder to center field. Almaguer had stolen second when Holden came up to bat. Holden blasted a homer over the center field fence to push Hermiston's lead to 6-3.

TDW scored two runs in the top of the third. The first score came on a hit to deep left field scoring a runner from first. The next score came from another shot to deep left field. The scores closed the gap to Hermiston leading 6-5.

Hermiston score in the bottom of the third came on an attempted pick off of Brad Morton at first base. The ball got away from the firstbaseman and Morton just kept motoring around the bases until he scored. That gave Hermistno the 7-5 lead at the end of the third inning.

The next scoring came in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs Almaguer walked and stole second base. Hawkins hit to right field driving in Almaguer and giving Hermiston the 8-5 lead.

TDW had one more scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh with two out when a hit to left field scored a runner. Hermiston won 8-6.

Photos by Terry Aichele