The Bridge City Cardinals were looking for the upset of the 18-4A Champs from Lufkin Hudson in Game Three of their series Saturday in Jasper.
Hudson won the first game 7-0 and the Cards won the second 4-0. Game Three was another shutout, but not in favor of the Cards.
Aidyn Mulhollan got the start for BC and took down the Hornets in order in the first. Hunter Ford would get things going in the bottom of the frame with a one out double and then take third on a passed ball. JS Bearden hit into a fielder’s choice and the first baseman went home with the throw to tag out Ford. Justin Abate would walk but both were left stranded.
In the top of the third Hudson would score a run after a lead off single by Kyle Daniel who was then sacrificed to third before being driven in by Griffin Salas.
In the top of the fourth Hudson had a runner in scoring position but this time it was BC throwing him out at home on a throw from first baseman Dax Latiolas to catcher Justin Abate. Both teams put up several defensive stars in the scorebook during the game and neither team made an error.
In the fifth, the Cards thought they had tied it up. Brice Swanton singled and then John VanHuis hit a ball deep in the outfield that bounced over the right field fence. Swanton scored on the play but the umpires sent Swanton back to third saying the play was stopped after the ball left the field. The next batter would ground out leaving two in scoring position.
Bearden walked to start the sixth and Abate sacrificed him to second. But the next two batters flied out leaving Bearden in scoring position.
In the top of the seventh the Hornets added a huge insurance run. Diesel Gonzalez double to start the frame. He was sacrificed to third and then scored on a ground out to make it 2-0.
Nolan Larsen would take down the Cards in order to end the game and the season for BC. Larsen pitched a three hit shutout with five strikeouts and three walks. Mulhollan was also good giving up just two runs on five hits with three K’s and just one walk.
Hudson will play Spring Hill in the third round. SH took Silsbee out of the playoffs in two straight.
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