The ECI Bulldogs moved into first place in the region standings last week after sweeping then-region leader Screven County in a two-game series. Screven entered the matchup atop the standings but fell to third place by week’s end, one game behind Metter, which has two region losses.
With five region games remaining, the Bulldogs still have work to do to hold onto the top spot. ECI has a key matchup with second-place Metter on Wednesday that could create some separation. The Bulldogs also face Claxton twice this week and will wrap up region play next week with a two-game series against Portal, which currently sits at 6-4 in region play.
ECI opened the week in Sylvania against Screven County. The Bulldogs rallied after surrendering a two-run lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs in the eighth to secure a 7-4 victory.
Screven struck first with single runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. The Bulldogs answered in the fourth, plating four runs. Jackson Kennedy drove in the first run with a single, scoring Bryson Thompson, who had led off the inning with a triple. Gunner Johnson added an RBI on a fielder’s choice, and Davis Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk to give ECI a 4-2 advantage.
The Gamecocks tied the game in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a leadoff error followed by a single, with both runners eventually scoring.
ECI escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with a force out at home and a pop out to send the game into extra innings. The Bulldogs then delivered in the eighth, scoring three runs and holding Screven scoreless in the bottom half to earn the win.
Kennedy led the Bulldogs at the plate with two of ECI’s five hits. Lake Bush pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and striking out two. Thompson worked in relief in the sixth and seventh innings, and Tuff Boddiford closed the game with a scoreless eighth.
Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs dropped a non-region game to Toombs County on March 25. ECI had defeated Toombs 6-0 earlier in the season, but the Bulldogs from Lyons evened the series with a 5-2 win.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning, but Toombs pulled ahead with three additional runs while holding ECI in check the rest of the way. Davis Johnson led ECI with two hits. Kennedy pitched five innings, allowing six hits and striking out three, while Johnson worked the final inning in relief.
ECI returned home Friday to complete the series with Screven County. In a strong pitching matchup, Jud Underwood delivered a complete game performance for the Bulldogs. Although Screven outhit ECI 6-3, the Gamecocks were hindered by seven walks and three errors.
The Bulldogs took control early, scoring two runs in the second inning on a single, two Screven errors, and a sacrifice fly. In the third, Lake Bush drove in another run with a single after two leadoff walks, extending the lead to 3-0.
Screven’s only run came in the fourth inning on a two-out double followed by an RBI single. Neither team scored again, and ECI secured a 3-1 win to claim the region lead.
Boddiford, Thompson, and Bush accounted for ECI’s three hits. Underwood went the distance on the mound, allowing six hits, walking one, and striking out four.
The Bulldogs face a busy stretch this week with four consecutive games. ECI opened with a non-region matchup at Bleckley County on Monday, will host Claxton on Tuesday, travel to Metter for a key region game on Wednesday, and close out the series against the Tigers in Claxton on Thursday.
