Enterprise forces decisive Game 3
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
May 5, 2004
ENTERPRISE The Enterprise Bulldogs' baseball fortunes turned in the second game of their best-of-three series against Mercy Cross, thanks to a misstep on the base path.
With the score knotted at three, a Crusader runner missed first base on what appeared to be an RBI double that gave his team a one-run lead. The Bulldogs appealed before the next pitch, and the runner was called out to end the inning and erase Mercy Cross' 4-3 advantage.
Enterprise went on to tally four runs in the bottom of the third en route to an 11-3 win Tuesday night at home in the Class 2A South State baseball tournament.
The victory tied the three-game series at one game each. The Crusaders won the first game of the series 5-4 on Monday night in Biloxi.
The deciding third game of the series will be at Mercy Cross on Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Enterprise pitcher Adam Simpson took full advantage of Mercy Cross' base stumble in the third, after he gave up three runs on three hits and an error in the first inning.
Simpson shut down the Crusaders' offense over the last four innings. The Bulldog pitcher did not surrender another hit the rest of the game, while striking out eight batters to close the game.
The victory boosted Simpson's record to 6-4 for the season as he won his third straight game, giving up three runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Enterprise's offense provided its pitcher with an ample cushion in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits and one error.
Bulldogs left fielder Wade Weathers, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, gave his team the lead with a double to right-center field to bring home Zeb Swain for a 4-3 lead.
Enterprise catcher Anthony Rawson, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, scored on a wild pitch following Weathers' double. Dennis Watson brought home another run with a single, and the Bulldogs' tallied their final run of the inning on a Mercy Cross error that allowed Watson to score for a 7-3 lead.
Simpson gave himself an eight-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The pitcher knocked a two-out double off the left field wall with the bases loaded to bring home three runs.
Wade Weathers, who pitched Game 1 for the Bulldogs, will also start Game 3.
