The Clinton Central Bulldogs fell to the Eastern Comets Thursday evening as a break in their four-game
winning streak after staging a comeback that saw the Bulldogs fall only one run short of tying the game heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Bulldogs tallied another eight errors for the season during their faceoff with the Comets yesterday evening, which exceeds the number of errors chalked up over the past three victories combined.
The Bulldogs started the game strong, scoring a run in the top of the first inning before forfeiting the plate to the Comets, who came into the inning with bats blazing. The Comets scored three runs during the bottom of the first, setting the stage for the rest of the game that did not look promising for the Bulldogs as they started the game 3 to 1.
The Bulldogs were held to only one run after the top of the second while the Comets secured another run in the bottom of the second, bringing the score to 4 to 1, which would allow for the gap to continue to increase heading into the third.
The Bulldogs came out strong during the third inning, securing a run before switching sides with the Comets as they hoped the closed gap of 4 to 2 would spark some momentum for the defense. The bottom of the third inning caused the gap to widen beyond the ability of the Bulldogs to close as the Comets scored three more runs, heading into the top of the fourth with a score of 7 to 2 in favor of the Comets.
Both teams were held to zero additional runs in the fourth, and the Bulldogs began to gain momentum heading into the fifth with an additional run before holding the Comets to zero once again in the bottom of the fifth, leading to both teams coming up short in the sixth with zero runs scored on both sides.
Heading into the top of the seventh inning with a score of 7 to 3, the Bulldogs were strained to score four runs or the game would conclude with a loss, but the girls would not bow out easily.
The Bulldogs sparked their bats to life as they would have four hits and only one strikeout in the top of the seventh, leading to two outs with bases loaded. As tensions rose amongst the players and fans, the Bulldogs began to enact the unthinkable and started a last stitch two-out rally that closed the gap to 7 to 6. Amidst the gasps and cheers from the crowd, the rally came to a screeching halt as the Comets secured their tenth strikeout of the night, allowing for the Comets to walk off with a score of 7 to 6 and a victory.
The Bulldogs struggled to gain the momentum seen in the final inning with only three hits and nine strikeouts in the first six innings that started the Bulldogs off swinging from behind. The Bulldogs ended the game with seven hits and eight errors compared to the Comets’ eight hits and three errors that inevitably secured them the victory.
Landree Whiteman was a force at the plate with 3-3 record and a double. Carly Davison saw a 1-2 record with a triple and an RBI, Kortney Surber saw a 1-1 record with a triple, three RBIs and two sacrifices, Emily Long secured a 1-3 record with a double and an RBI and Abigail Richie saw a 1-4 record with an RBI.
In the circle, Whiteman saw six innings pitched as the Comets did not take to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and two strikeouts while the Comets secured eight hits, seven runs and two walks.
The Bulldogs (10-5) will take on the Frankfort Hot Dogs (0-14) at 11 a.m. tomorrow, May 11 at Central. The Bulldogs will face their first playoff game on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. against the Faith Christian High School Eagles (4-11) at Central.