Tough sixth inning spells doom for Bulldogs at state baseball tourney

Tigers plate 11 runs in sixth to down Bulldogs

IDAHO FALLS — It was polar opposite from their state opener, but in the end the result was the same, as the Bulldogs played brilliantly for five innings before an explosive sixth inning proved costly in a 12-2 loss to Idaho Falls in the consolation game of the 4A Idaho State Baseball Tournament on Friday.

Tyrone Larson once again logged a quality start with the Bulldogs (12-8) facing elimination, holding an Idaho Falls team that averages nine runs a game completely in check, striking out three and allowing just two hits as the Bulldogs led 2-1 heading into the pivotal sixth inning.

The Bulldogs scored their first run on an RBI single to left by Preston Pettit that scored Alex Stockton before Thomas Riley was called out at home trying to score on the play. The second run came after Hunter Donahoe ripped a single, then pinch runner Kade MacDonald was moved to third on a single by Billy Brackett and scored on a single up the middle by Tyler Lehman. It appeared for a while that the two runs might be enough the way Larson was dealing.

Sandpoint failed to add any insurance runs in the top of the sixth, before Larson started the bottom half of the inning with a hit batter and a walk. Something was wrong with his leg, and he limped off the field with his team clinging to a one-run lead.

Bulldog closer Preston Pettit came in with no outs and the Tigers (21-7) began to heat up offensively, stringing together a barrage of hits. The first seven batters that came to the plate in the inning scored, and when Alex Stockton relieved Pettit the score was 9-2 and the bases were loaded.

Stockton, who hasn’t pitched much this season, walked a run in and gave up an RBI single, before Thomas Riley became the fourth pitcher of the inning and surrendered a walk-off single to end the game via the 10 run rule. Larson suffered his first loss of the season, dropping to 4-1 on the year.

In the opener, the exact opposite happened, as the Bulldogs started slow but finished with five stellar innings in a loss to Vallivue.

Despite going two and out at state, it was the best season in a long time for the Bulldog program, which continues to rise under the stewardship of Chase Tigert, earning a state berth for the first time in 11 years. Sandpoint showed the ability to not just play with the state competition, but out-perform teams for long stretches, winning 10 innings of play outright in the two losses.

A complete box score was unavailable at press time.