The Hazard Bulldogs hosted the Hazard Invitational Tournament this past weekend, and came away with a 2-1 record. The Bulldogs started strong, defeating Pikeville and Belfry, but then lost to George Rogers Clark.
In their opening game, the Bulldogs took on the Panthers of Pikeville. After a slow start, Hazard began to take control of the game.
Hazard was first to break the ice with a pair of runs in the third inning, and then then doubled their score in the fifth inning, giving them the 4-0 lead.
Pikeville pulled to within a single run in the sixth inning (4-3), but turned around and gave Hazard six runs in the bottom of the stanza (10-3). The best the Panthers could muster was a one-run rally in the seventh, setting the final tally at 10-4.
Hazard stats: Austin Johnson 2 runs and 2 hits, J. T. Haynes 1 run, 1 hit and 2 RBI, Evan Whitaker 2 runs, 2 hits and 2 RBI, Jordan Olinger 1 run, 1 hit and 1 RBI, Griffin Wells 1 run, 2 hits and 1 RBI, Josh Meehan 1 run, 2 hits and 1 RBI, Kevin Eversole 1 hit and 1 RBI, Matt Collins 1 hit and 2 RBI, Jake Roll 1 hit, Nathan Stupart 1 run and Jack Davis 1 run. Pitching: Kameron Conley: 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts, Griffin Wells 2 walks and 1 strikeout, and Kevin Eversole 1 walk, 1 hit and 1 run.
In the second game of the set, Hazard took on the Belfry Pirates. This game belonged to Hazard from the opening pitch as they scored in all but one inning, and held Belfry to a single run.
The Bulldogs scored a single run in the first inning, and added two in each the second and third innings. By the midway point, Hazard had built a 5-0 lead.
Belfry scored their lone run in the fourth inning (which would be the only inning that Hazard would not score). The Bulldogs closed out the game with a run in the fifth inning, and two in the sixth. The Pirates could not mount a late rally, giving Hazard the 8-1 win.
Hazard stats: Austin Johnson 1 run, 1 hit and 2 RBI, Evan Whitaker 2 runs and 3 hits, Jordan Olinger 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 RBI, Griffin Wells 1 run, 1 hit and 1 RBI, Josh Meehan 1 run, 2 hits and 2 RBI, Kevin Eversole 1 RBI and Nathan Stupart 1 run. Pitching: Evan Whitaker 7 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks and 2 strikeouts.
**** The Bulldogs fell 8-9 in 10 innings to George Rogers Clark in the third game. There were no stats provided.













