Sports Writer

GOSHEN – It was a game which had a little of everything for people who love baseball – unless they’re a fan of low scoring games, great pitching and superb defense.

In what amounted to

an epic slugfest which produced some strange and unusual twists, the Pike County High School Bulldogs held on for a wacky 20-15 victory over the Goshen High School Eagles in local diamond action at Eagle Field late Monday afternoon.

Throughout the seven inning 2 hour 45 minute marathon, the Bulldogs and the Eagles combined for 35 runs on 25 hits. It was defensively where the game turned ugly as both teams combined for 12 errors, eight batsmen and 14 wild pitches on the afternoon.

However, the Bulldogs (3-9) were able to prevail as they won consecutive games for the first time this season.

"I’ve never been in a game like this," said a victorious Pike County head coach Fred Holland. "I’m extremely proud of the way the guys hit the ball and battled back. This was a nice win for us."

The Bulldogs started the offensive rampage scoring five runs in the top of the first. After Chris Nickson led off getting hit by a pitch, he stole second and scored on a RBI single by Brian Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick and Elijah Daniels each came around to score on a passed ball, while Dee Price and Chris Bell each collected RBI singles to cap the inning.

However, the Eagles (3-8) evened the score with five runs of their own in the bottom of the first. With runners on first and second and one out, junior Averick Rogers lined a double into the left center field gap scoring Mylo Jones and Michael Hatten cutting the deficit to three runs. Two batters later, Marcus Scott delivered a two

RBI single to right center field bringing in Rogers and Green cutting the deficit to 5-4. Scott would later come around to score on a wild pitch tying the game at 5-5 to cap the inning.

In the top of the second, the Bulldogs took the lead for good scoring three runs. After Kilpatrick was hit by a pitch, Joshua Price belted a long two run homer over the left field fence to give Pike County a 7-5 lead. Elijah Daniels scored an unearned run on a error to cap the rally. Goshen cut the lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the second when Hatten drilled an RBI double bringing in Wesley Wright who reached base on a infield hit.

However, the third and fourth innings turned out to be decisive in the outcome as the Bulldogs outscored the Eagles 8-1 to break the game wide open. In the top of the third, Pike County scored four runs with the key blows coming on consecutive RBI singles by Bell and Joshua Daniels. One inning later, the Eagle defense unraveled as Pike County scored

four unearned runs with the benefit of only one hit as Nickson, Elijah Daniels, Joshua and Dee Price each scored in the inning to increase the lead to 16-6.

The Eagles though battled back over the next two innings to put themselves within striking distance scoring six runs. With the score 16-7 after Wright scored a fourth inning unearned run, Goshen scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth cutting the Pike County lead to 16-12. The key hit of the inning was a two RBI single by Rogers driving in Wright and Jones.

The Bulldogs put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth scoring four runs as Brian Kilpatrick capped the inning with a two RBI single driving in Bell and Anthony Kilpatrick to give the Bulldogs a commanding a 20-12 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles made it interesting scoring three runs all on RBI infield hits. However, Kilpatrick struck out Brandon Penny with the bases loaded to end the game.

Brian Kilpatrick led the Bulldogs going 3-for-4 scoring and driving in three runs, while Nickson went 2-for-3 scoring three runs and collecting one RBI in the winning effort. Joshua Price was 1-for-4 scoring three runs and driving in two with the home run, while Dee Price was 2-for-5 scoring three runs and driving

in one for PCHS.

Rogers led the Eagles going 3-for-4 scoring two runs and driving in four RBIs while Scott had one hit scoring twice and driving in three runs in

a losing cause. Chad Sanders also collected three hits while scoring and driving in one run for the Eagles.

After facing Red Level Tuesday afternoon in a critical area game, the Eagles won’t return to action until next Tuesday when they host Georgiana. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (0-1 in area) face their biggest game of the season this Thursday afternoon when they host Elba (3-7, 1-1 in the area), who defeated area foe Luverne (5-4 overall, 2-1 in area) 4-3 Monday. The first pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. in Brundidge.