Eagles stumble against Bulldogs

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

MONROVIA -- South Putnam pitcher Seth Hammond didn't get many breaks Tuesday against Monrovia.

The Bulldogs broke open a close game with a bloop double to short right field in the fifth inning that scored three runs in an 8-4 victory over the Eagles in a West Central Conference contest at Monrovia.

Hammond allowed eight runs in six innings. Four of them were unearned and besides the key double by Monrovia No. 9 hitter Justin Gordon in the fifth, the Bulldogs also benefited from a couple of infield hits that could have been turned into outs with good plays.

Hammond allowed 11 hits, struck out three and walked three.

"We didn't field great, we didn't hit great," South Putnam coach Ryan Gilman said. "We just couldn't get anything going and they took advantage of every opportunity. We didn't make many errors (two), but we could have helped Seth by making some plays behind him."

Monrovia had four errors and gave up four unearned runs, but it also made some outstanding plays in support of pitcher Davis Noel, who went the seven-inning distance. He allowed five hits, struck out 11 and walked two.

"Their pitcher (Noel) kept us off balance with his fastball and curve," Gilman said. "There was a big difference in their velocity. And they made plays that backed him."

South Putnam (trailed 7-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, but had Rob Gibson on third and Hammond on second with one out.

Aaron Parker blasted a towering drive to dead centerfield, but Monrovia's Jeremy Gray tracked it down and made an over-the-shoulder running catch. Gibson tagged and scored, but instead of South Putnam having two runs in and a runner on third with one out, the Eagles had run in and two outs.

Tanner Thompson walked and Noel got Sawyer Arnold to fly out to left to end the threat.

Parker and Nick Scott each had two hits including a double.

Scott led off the third with a double to left. Joe Waters reached base on an error and Justin Baumgardner sacrifice bunted them over to third and second.

Gibson made the second out and Monrovia opened the door with a two-run error. Parker doiubled to center to drive in the third run to tie it at 3-3.

Monrovia scored one run in the fourth with pair of singles, one a short fly down the first base line that reached the turf, followed by a walk and an fielder's choice to drive in the run.

Waters made a leaping catch of Grant Benefiel's drive to left to end the inning.

The worst of Hammond's misfortune was in the fifth. Monrovia loaded the bases with two outs on an infield hit, an error and a walk. Gordon was jammed and lofted a pop fly down the line into short right field. It fell as three Eagles converged. Two runs scored on the hit. The Eagles put Gordon, trying to take second, into a rundown and as he scrambled back safely to first, Monrovia's Kent Delph scored for a 7-3 lead.

The Eagles were the home team because Monday's game at South Putnam was rained out and moved for a doubleheader at Monrovia on Tuesday.

The results of the second game of the doubleheader where not available at press time.

At Monrovia

Monrovia 111 131 0 -- 8 12 4

South Putnam 003 010 0 -- 4 5 2

Davis Noel and Evan Burgess; Seth Hammond, Nick Scott (7) and Rob Gibson.

WP: Noel (5 hits, 11 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 hit batter); LP--Hammond (11 hits, 3 strikeouts, three walks, 1 WP).

HR: Monrovia -- Benefiel

2B: Monrovia--Marley; South Putnam--Parker, Scott.

1B: Monrovia--Gray 2, Benefiel 2, Zier 2, Gordon 2, Judson 1, Delph 1; South Putnam--Gibson 1, Heller 1, Scott 1.

RBI: Monrovia--Benefiel 3, Gordon 2, Gray 1, Marley 1; South Putnam--Parker 2.