Dawgs drop opening game to Yorkton

Saturday July 16, 2016

OKOTOKS, Alta. _ The Okotoks Dawgs (24-12) drop their second straight game to an eastern opponent as they lost to the Yorkton Cardinals (20-15) 11-3 in a game shortened by rain after six innings at Seaman Stadium.

The Dawgs got all of their three runs in the third inning, as Michael Gretler (Oregon State University) had two RBI’ on one hit as Justin King had the other RBI on his lone hit of the night. Garret Kirkwood (Colby Community College) and Daniel Fredrickson (Gonzaga University) had the other hits for the Dawgs as they were shut down offensively the rest of the game.

Jared Spearing (Dawgs Baseball Academy) had a rough outing against the Cardinals, as he only lasted a 1/3 of an inning, getting the loss in the 11-3 beat down the Cardinals gave the Dawgs. 

Spearing allowed five hits, four runs and walked one. Michael Bucci (University of Niagara) and Brendan Kawaja (a Loyola Marymount University commit) were sent into pitch relief for Okotoks. 

Bucci pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, six runs -- two earned -- on three walks and a  strikeout. 

Kawaja pitched one inning, allowing one hit, one unearned run and two walks.

Dawgs (24-10) sweep the Weyburn Beavers (17-20) in 2 game series and push their season high wining streak to 7 games.

Previously ... the Dawgs beat the Weyburn Beavers in the second of a two game series. The Dawgs won 6-5 in nine innings after trailing earlier in the game to increase their winning streak to seven.

Offensively, the Dawgs were lead by Blake Rowlett (Eastern Tennessee State University), Justin King (Dawgs Academy) Drake Kirkwood (Colby Community College) and Kellen Marruffo (Utah State University). Rowlett would have two hits and two runs after five at-bats.

King and Kirkwood both would have two hits and one run in. Marrufo had two homes runs and a double going 3-for-5. He was accounted for four runs 

Marruffo scored the first run on the solo shot, his RBI double regained the second lead, and his two-run shot regained the final lead totalling four RBIs.

CJ Lewington (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff) would start things off for the Dawgs and pitch six innings allowing seven hits and pitching four strikeouts. 

Relief would come from Anthony Balderas (Lewis-Clark University), Christian Parsons (Lower Columbia College) and Tyler Burdett (Dixie State University). Balderas and Parsons would each pitch one inning with three strikeouts each. Tyler Burdett also pitched an inning and to get credit for the win.