Josh Pultro went 3 for 3 with two runs batted in and two scored and Ozzie Hurt drove in three while three pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Bryant Hornets junior varsity thumped their counterparts from Little Rock Catholic, 11-3 in five innings Tuesday night.
The Hornets scored four runs in the bottom of the first, four more in the third and three in the fourth, taking advantage of 10 walks and a hit batsman with nine hits.[more]
Tyler Brown, Blake Davidson and Landon Pickett pitched for the Hornets. Davidson worked two perfect innings and Pickett worked around a pair of walks in the fifth, fanning two to finish.
The Rockets scored once in the top of the first on a two-out walk to Logan Wewers and singles by Drew Turner and Drew Price. But Brown fanned Tyler Ramsey to keep it at that.
The Hornets' first-inning uprising began when Evan Jobe was hit by a pitch. Pickett and Cameron Price drew walks to load the bases for Tyler Nelson who ripped a shot that ricocheted off Catholic pitcher John Osborn for a base hit, plating Jimi Easterling who was running for Jobe. Brown bounced to third resulting in a force at the plate before Pultro came up and laced a hump-back liner just beyond the reach of the second baseman for a two-run single. Dylan Cross singled in Brown to make it 4-1.
In the second, Clayton Getchell doubled for Catholic. It was the Rockets' last hit of the game. And he was caught trying to steal third by Cross. Cole Boardman was hit by a pitch then walks were issued to Ryan Thompson and Michael Haun to load the bases. A run scored when Mason McKay ground out to Hurt at second.
After Davidson fanned two in the top of the third, the Hornets added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Brown walked, Pultro singled to right and Cross walked to load the bags for Hurt who lined a single to center to drive in a pair. Hayden Daniel singled in a run then, with two down, Pickett walked and a wild pitch allowed Hurt to score making it 8-2.
Davidson struck out two more in the top of the fourth and the Hornets put the finishing touches on the offensive output in the home half. Brown walked, Pultro smacked his third single and Cross drew a free pass to load the bases. Hurt drove in his third run with a sacrifice fly to left, Daniel singled in Pultro and Jobe lofted a sacrifice fly to right to set the final score.
