Bulldogs Win in Extra Innings

The Bulldogs pulled out an exciting win in game 1 of the Zionsville series winning 9-8 in extra innings.  The Dogs jumped out to an early 2 run lead when leadoff hitter senior Brad Guilinger walked to start the game and seniors Caleb Sampen, Anthony Travelsted and Travis Mears followed up with singles, two of those scoring runs.  The Eagles were able to claw back ahead scoring one run in the bottom of the first, three runs in the bottom of the second and two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Heading into the top of the 6^th, the Dogs trailed 6-2, but the offense came alive.  A few timely walks and a hit single from senior Owen Gilbert allowed junior pinch hitter Chase Haynes to come to the plate with 2 outs and deliver a huge 2-run single to right field.  Senior Michael Klayer retired the side in the bottom of the 6^th and the Dogs came back to the plate down two in the top of the 7^th.  In the inning, Guilinger led off the inning with a HBP, senior Jacson McGowan singled up the middle, Sampen reached 1^st when the Eagles botched a attempted sac bunt from Sampen and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Cameron Martin followed by back-to-back walks from the Eagles relief pitcher allowed the Dogs to pull even.  Klayer struck out the side in the bottom of the 7^th and brought the Dogs back to the plate one more time.  In the 8^th, senior Andrew Dishinger reached on a single and then scored the go-ahead run on a McGowan double to left. Sampen reached on a walk and Mears scored 2 on a single to right to bring the score to 9-6.  The Eagles threatened in the 8^th when a 1 out single to left turned into a two-run triple after a unexpected hop bounced in favor of the Eagles.  With the tying run on third and only 1 out, Klayer struck out one and got the final batter to pop out to 2^nd to end the game.  Senior Triston Polley threw 4 innings for the Dogs, sophomore Logan Kabrich threw one scoreless and Michael Klayer threw the final three to collect the win.  Offensively the Dogs were led by Jacson McGowan (3/5, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 2B), Travis Mears (1/3, 2 RBIs) and Chase Haynes (1/1, 2 RBIs).  The Dogs move to 10-7 (6-4 HCC).