Published: June 16, 2009 01:50 am      

Bringing the heat

Fusion ride big second inning to beat Bulldogs

The Fusion broke a close game wide-open with seven runs in the second inning and pitcher Logan Holtmyer took care of the rest, giving up one earned run in an 8-3 win over the Bulldogs.

Holtmyer took the win in the complete game effort with Adam Ridley leading the charge offensively, going 1-for-1 and scoring two runs.

Ridley scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, drawing a walk and advancing to third on a passed ball. The shortstop bolted for home on a pickoff throw and scored standing up.

The Fusion threatened to add more runs but a heads-up defensive play by Bulldogs’ shortstop Darius Brooks negated the threat. Brooks snared a line drive and threw to third for a forceout. A groundout got the Bulldogs out of the inning trailing 1-0.

Holtmyer held the Bulldogs off the bases in the bottom of the first and the Fusion went to work, scoring seven runs.

Chance Bridgers led off with a single and scored moments later on a passed ball. Chase Lynch reached on a walk and stole two bases to reach scoring position as Dawson Wilkerson also drew a walk. A single by Graham Cox scored both runs. Cox also scored on the play to extend the lead to 5-0.

Ridley laid down a bunt and scored on the play and Holmyer followed with a double. A single by Grant Braught scored a run and Braught would score moments later to account for the maximum seven runs in the inning.

The Bulldogs got their bats going in the second, picking up three base hits off of Holtmyer. Kyle Reed led off with a single but was thrown out by Braught on an steal attempt. Trey Nunez doubled with one out and stole second. Brooks took care of the rest, singling him home to cut the lead down to 8-1.

The Bulldog defense shut the Fusion down in the third and cut two more runs off of the lead.

Hunter Nunez walked and Jackson Seeburger singled to put two runners on base. Both would score in the inning with Donavan Martin getting credit with an RBI on a groundout. The game would end following the Bulldog at-bat.

Caleb Cronk and Colton Berry contributed to the win for the Fusion while Gabriel Taylor, Tanner Boseman, Ryley Shipman, Terrion Martin and Levi Barnes played significant roles for the Bulldogs.