Strong pitching from Cambridge starter Jon Mullis and clutch hitting gave the Bears a tough 3-1 victory in a region game at North Atlanta Wednesday night, March 16th. Mullis and the Warriors starting pitcher went toe to toe for most of the game, but it was the Bears who were able to capitalize on their opportunities to edge the home team.
North Atlanta struck first in second. Mullis gave up the only 3 hits of the game he would allow in that inning, but was able to control the damage by striking out the 9-hole hitter and coercing a pop out from the leadoff hitter to keep the deficit at a single run. From that point forward the senior righthander cruised through the opposition. Meanwhile, the Bears offense was stranding runners on base and could not push anything across through four innings leaving five men in scoring position to that point. Davis Dasher, however, got things started in the 5th with a one-out bunt single. Bradley Wiedman stepped to the plate and singled to right, moving Dasher to third. Hot-hitting Pete Gottschalk then came through with a deep fly to left that scored Dasher and tied up the score.
The Bears pushed ahead in the 6th putting four men on base without the benefit of a hit. Conner Young started the rally with a one-out hit-by-pitch. Austin Weiermiller then walked. Young moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt, which brought Luke Foote to the plate. Foote has had several key hits so far this season, and he came through again with a hard shot to a drawn-in first baseman. Young broke for home and beat the tag for the Bears first lead at 2-1. The Bears would eventually load the bases but could not push anything else across.
With the game still tight going in to the 7th, the Bears were looking for an insurance run, and they got it. Bradley Wiedman started things off with a rope double to right center. The next two hitters could not get on, which brought up Conner Young to the plate. The junior hit a line drive up the middle for a single to drive in the final run of the game and make the score 3-1. Mullis closed out the game in the 7th and the game was won.
Mullis went the distance for Cambridge, giving up a single run on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks. Young and Wiedman did the bulk of the damage at the plate, each player getting 3 hits and scoring a run. Young also had a HBP and an RBI. Gottschalk and Dasher had the other hits and Luke Foote had a big RBI.
The Bears and Warriors conclude their series on Friday, March 18th at Cambridge. Game time is 5:55 PM.
Go Bears!
