Dawgs rally late to hold off Prospects

June 27, 2018

By Tyler Lowey

Okotoks Dawgs

Edmonton, AB — The Okotoks Dawgs pushed three runs across in the ninth inning to hold off the Edmonton Prospects to pick up the 6-3 win Wednesday night at RE/MAX Field in Edmonton.

The Dawgs (14-6) led 3-0 for the first seven innings after Marcus Skundrich (Mesa Community College) drove in Abdiel Alicea (Tabor College) for the first run of the game. With Collin Ridout (Tennessee Wesleyan University) on third, Skundrich took off for second and stayed in a rundown long enough for Ridout to race home.

Ridout led the Dawgs with three hits, highlighted by a triple in the top of the eighth.

Ryan Humeniuk (Indian Hills Community College) led off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle. After he stole his sixth base of the season, Danny Donnelly (Chandler-Gilbert Community College) advanced him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Next up, was Brandon Sparks (Bellevue University), who picked up his sixth RBI of the season when he drove Humeniuk in with a sacrifice fly to left, which put the Dawgs up 3-0.

Edgar Barclay made his debut on the mound for the Prospects (8-13) and settled down after issuing a pair of leadoff walks in the first. He only lasted four innings, gave up two earned runs on a pair of hits and struck out five. He got stuck with the loss.

In the bottom of the eighth the Prospects rallied when Zane Takhar and Tony Olson reached safely with one out. A fielder’s choice by Percy Liu allowed both runners to advance 90-feet. Michael Gahan then popped up foul to right fielder Sparks. His throw home bounced past catcher Skundrich and allowed both runners to score.

The Dawgs bounced back in the top of the ninth when Humeniuk reached base after getting hit by a pitch and came around to score on a passed ball.

The Dawgs shortstop Alicea drew a pair of walks in his first two at bats in his debut with the new club and blew the game open in the ninth when he singled up the middle to score Donnelly and Sparks.

Brock Townsend (Linn-Benton Community College) made his third start of the season for the Dawgs and was very strong over six innings. He held the Prospects off the scoreboard, only allowing four hits while striking out five. He improved his record to 2-0.

Dustin Schorie (Mesa Community College) worked a scoreless seventh, Jesse Coleman (Weber International University) surrendered a pair in the eighth and Corey Jackson (Indian Hills Community College) pitched a clean ninth.