Dawgs drop second in a row

Left-hander Justin Hammergren struck out nine in 4 1/3 innings for the Okotoks Dawgs on Friday. Photo: Lewis-Clark State Athletics.(file photo)

July 12, 2019

By Dan Khavkin

Okotoks Dawgs

Fort McMurray, Alta. – For just the second time this season, the Okotoks Dawgs have suffered back-to-back losses.

They were defeated 6-3 by the Fort McMurray Giants on Friday night. The Dawgs’ season record fell to 25-8 with the loss.

The Dawgs started strong, jumping out to the lead on an RBI double from Southeastern Community College catcher Gavin Logan in the first inning.

The Dawgs maintained that lead until the bottom of the fourth when the Giants rallied for four runs thanks largely to a couple of calls that went against the Dawgs.

Lewis-Clark State hurler Justin Hammergren, who was making his fifth start of the season for the Dawgs, dominated for the first three innings before a rocky fourth frame. He ended up fanning nine batters in 4 1/3 innings.

LC State right-hander Tanner Simpson took over for Hammergren and didn’t allow an earned run in 1 2/3 innings. Nick Vickers and Tyler McWillie followed with a scoreless inning each.

The Dawgs tallied two runs on back-to-back RBI doubles from Iowa-Western outfielder Isaiah Peterson and University of Houston infielder Brett Esau in the eighth inning to make the score 6-3, but that was as close as they would get.

Also of note in the contest, WCBL batting average leader and Chandler-Gilbert outfielder Tristan Peters had his season-long 31 game hitting-streak snapped when he failed to register a hit for the Dawgs.

The second game of the series is is set for Saturday at 2:05 p.m.