Southeast winds helped carry the ball far as the Bulldogs hit four home runs to win game one 18-1 in five innings of a double header against Denmark Saturday.
Denmark started the game getting on the board first when Breah Peronto reached on an error and was driven in on a Courtney Ullmer single.
New London quickly responded when leadoff hitter Niki Euhardy knocked in a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1. Lexy Zaddack then followed with a single, Zaddack advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Fitzgerald. The next Batter Emily Gorges then pounded out a two run shot to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
Kelsey Fassbender and Jamie Siewert would single but a mental error ended the inning when Emily Wilfuer struck out swinging on a passed ball and first base was occupied resulting in a putout while Siewert was returning to first.
The bulldogs had another three run second inning thanks to the long ball Kendra Kruger reached on an error, Niki Euhardy reached on an error, and the next batter Lexy Zaddack was able to carry a 3 run shot over the fence to extend the lead 6-3.
The Bulldogs put together a nine run third inning, this time the Bulldogs scored their runs on the small ball. Three straight batters singled to load the bases as Emily Steffanus reached on a fielder’s choice but Denmark got the out at home plate. Niki Euhardy batted in two runs on a single as well as Brooke Fitzgerald. Emily Gorges and McKenzie Dey also singled and batted runs in. Emily Wilfuer hit a triple to drive in three more runs to give the Bulldogs a 15-1 lead. Marissa Hogan struck out to end the inning. At this time, the Bulldogs ran Vikings Pitcher Missy Simons out of the game. She was replaced by Liz Lacenski. McKenzie Dey got the chance to pitch the last two innings and was able to hold the Vikings scoreless.
The Bulldogs were not done in the fourth inning as Steffanus hit a leadoff single and two batters later, Brooke Fitzgerald batted her in on a single. Fitzgerald was batted in on another Emily Gorges home run. Dey gave up 3 base hits in the fifth inning but was able to get out of it as Denmark stranded two base runners to end game one. Winning pitcher Emily Gorges pitched three innings, walked one allowed one hit and struck out four. McKenzie Dey pitched two innings walked none, struck out none and gave up four hits. The Bulldogs pounded out 18 hits. They were led by Jamie Siewert 3×3, Emily Gorges 3×4 2 HR 6 RBI, Brooke Fitzgerald 2×3 3 RBI, Lexy Zaddack 2×3 HR 3 RBI.
Game two versus Denmark
In game two the Vikings put up a fight making the Bulldogs work hard for a 4-3 win. Denmark got out on top early as Kaila Stencil hit a two run home run to take the lead. The Bulldogs tied it up in the fourth inning when Jamie Siewert drove in Lexy Zaddack and McKenzie Dey on a single.
Denmark took the lead again in the fourth as Stencil hit an RBI double. The Bulldogs took the lead for good in the sixth inning as Lexy Zaddack led off with a walk and was batted in on a Gorges single to tie it up at 3-3. Next, Jamie Siewert drove in McKenzie Dey who was running for Gorges to score the fourth run of the game. From there, Gorges pitched exceptional and left the tying run on third base in the sixth inning and she put up a 3-up-3 down seventh inning to earn the sweep.
Gorges earned the win going all seven innings allowing four hits, walked three and struck out four. Denmark pitcher Courtney Ullmer held the Bulldogs to five hits, Jamie Siewert was the leading hitter going 2×3 with 2 RBI. The Bulldogs are 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the Bay. The Bulldogs are tied for first place with Oconto Falls who they play Tuesday May 3 in Oconto Falls.