The Pierz Bulldogs put up 6 runs in the top of the 5th inning and went on to beat the Freeport Black Sox 9-1 on Sunday at Black Sox Park.
The Bulldogs got a lead-off double from Reese Young to start the game, then a sacrifice bunt from Kyle Hastings moved Young to 3rd. After walks to Max Barclay and Teddy Dehler loaded the bases against Sox starter Ryan Liebrenz. Reese Young then scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 before Liebrenz got a pop out and a line out to end the inning.
Freeport tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the 4th against Bulldogs starter Reese Young when Matt Johnson reached on an error, going all the way to 3rd base on the play. Owen Fradette delivered an rbi single to center to tie the game at 1-1 after 4 innings.
In the top of the 5th, the Bulldogs loaded the bases with no outs when Reese Young reached on an error and both Kyle Hastings and Max Barclay singled. Teddy Dehler then sent an rbi single to left to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1. After a wild pitch from Ryan Liebrenz allowed Kyle Hastings to score to make it 3-1, Sawyer Lochner walked to load the bases once again. Pinch-hitter Grady Young then drew a walk to force in Max Barclay and make it 4-1. That was the end of the day on the mound for Ryan Liebrenz as he was replaced by Owen Fradette. Another wild pitch brought in Teddy Dehler to make it 5-1, then an error on Fradette allowed Sawyer Lochner to score and it was now 6-1. Link Toops then sacrificed and reached on an error as Grady Young scored the 6th run of the inning and Pierz had a 7-1 lead before Freeport got out of the inning.
In the top of the 6th, Teddy Dehler led off with a single and Sawyer Lochner was hit by a pitch from Owen Fradette. Teddy Dehler eventually scored on a Sox error to make it 8-1.
Freeport loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th on a pair of 1-out walks to Matt Johnson and Owen Fradette and a single from Nate Mettenburg. Bulldogs pitcher Reese Young avoided any damage with a strikeout and a Ben Millard force out at 2nd as the Bulldogs led 8-1 after 6 innings.
The Sox loaded the bases again in the bottom of the 8th on 2 walks and an error but reliever Brayden Haberman struck out Ben Millard to end the inning.
The Bulldogs pushed across the final run of the game in the top of the 9th when Brian Kiel was hit by a pitch, Brayden Haberman doubled with 1 out and then a Jackson Thielen rbi groundout allowed pinch-runner Reed Theis to score and make it 9-1.
Pierz Bulldogs 9 7 3 – 9
Freeport 1 5 2 – 1
WP: Reese Young 6.0 IP 1 run 4 hits 9k 3bb
SV: Brayden Haberman 3.0 IP 0 runs 1 hit 3k 3bb
LP: Ryan Liebrenz 4.0 IP 7 runs 5 hits 3k 7bb
Owen Fradette 3.0 IP 1 run 1 hit 5k 2bb 2hp
Andrew Kerzman 2.0 IP 1 run 1 hit 1k 0bb 1hp
Bulldogs:
Reese Young 1-4 2B, bb, sb, 2 runs
– Mason Herold 0-1
Kyle Hastings 2-3 run
– Aeden Janson 0-1
Max Barclay 1-4 bb, run
– William Dehler 0-0
Teddy Dehler 2-4 bb, rbi, 2 runs
Sawyer Lochner 0-1 3bb, hp, run
– Ashton Poser 0-0
Brian Kiel 0-3 hp
– Grady Young 0-0 bb, rbi, run
– Reed Theis 0-0 run
Kirby Fischer 0-4 bb
Link Toops 0-2 bb, rbi
– Brayden Haberman 1-1 2B
Cooper Grashorn 0-2
– Jackson Thielen 0-2 rbi
Black Sox:
Bryan Benson 1-3
– Iver Papke 0-2
Ryan Liebrenz 0-4 bb
Mason Toutges 1-3 2bb
Matt Johnson 1-4 bb, run
Owen Fradette 1-2 bb, rbi
– Andrew Kerzman 0-1
Nate Mettenburg 1-3 bb
Addi Dobowey 0-4
Ben Millard 0-4
Carter Williams 0-3
– Carter Neuenschwander 0-1