Hornets Sweep Dreadnaughts

The Saline Hornets swept a doubleheader from the host Dexter Dreadnaughts Monday, winning 9-1 and 15-4.

The Hornets took advantage of Dreadnaught pitching in the opener and then hit a couple sophomores hard in the nightcap.

Saline improved to 15-4 overall and 7-2 in the SEC. Saline hasn't lost to an SEC foe since dropping a doubleheader to Bedford April 8.

"We started slow with all the bad weather and everything, but we've picked it up lately and we're starting to play pretty well," said Doug Mitchell, who scattered six hits, walked none and struck out five, giving up one run in six innings to earn the win in the opener.

Dexter fell to 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the SEC. Coach Don Little said his team ran into a good team to open a tough week that also included games against Bedford Tuesday and Pioneer on Thursday.

"Saline has a good program, even this year, when they're being accused of being down. It's going to be a rough week for us, so we couldn't throw everything at them. We threw a couple sophomores at them in the second game, and they got to see what it's like to play the big boys," said Dexter coach Don Little.

In the opener, Mitchell started for Saline while Gowen pitched for Dexter.

In the first inning, Mitchell was hit by a pitch (one of three times in the game) and stole second. He scored on a double by Garrett Gordon for a 1-0 lead. The Hornets added to their lead in the second when Austin Hauck singled. He moved to third on a couple outs and then scored on a Dexter error.

Saline broke the game open in the fourth. Collin Drumm led off with a single to center. Austin McBee was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Mitchell was plonked to load the bases. Gordon doubled to left to score two runs for a 6-0 lead.

Dexter got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Mike Mioduszewski doubled to center and Ian Boyd singled to put runners on the corners. Boyd stole second. A one-out chopper to second scored Mioduszewski. Mitchell struck out MacKay Little to get out of the inning.

In the sixth, Gordon led off with a single pas the third basemen. The ball eluded the leftfield and Gordon was safe at third. With Ostrander up, a pitch eluded the Dexter catcher and Gordon scored to make it 7-1.

Saline added two more in the seventh. With two outs, Bruley and Mitchell reached base after being hit by pitches. Gordon followed with his third double of the game, scoring both runners. Gordon finished the game going 4-for-5 with three doubles and five RBI.

Gordon pitched an inning of relief, allowing a leadoff double to Dylan Pierce before striking out the next three hitters to end the game.

Coach Scott Theisen was satisfied with the job done by his starting pitcher.

"Coach (Jeff) Waltz put it best. He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled out there and did what he had to do to stay ahead of the count," Theisen said. "He's been better, but he was competitive out there."

In the second game, Dexter threw Brett Garwood at the Hornets, who replied with Ostrander on the mound.

Saline wasted no time getting to work. Bruley and Gordon singled for Saline. Hauck doubled in Bruley and then Matt Goeman drilled a triple over the centerfielder's head to drive in two runs. The throw to third was wild and Goeman sprinted home for a 4-0 lead.

Dexter hit the ball hard in the first inning. Byron drilled a one-out double to right. Mioduszewski walked. An error on a pick-off attempt allowed Byron to score. Pierce followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2.

Saline added a run in the second. Pat Price walked to lead off the inning and Bruley singled. Gordon brought the run in on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.

Dexter added two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Schmidt stroked a one-out double to left. Justin Hart followed with a single. Byron's singled to drive in a run and Mioduszewski drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, to make it 5-4. It was as close as Dexter would get.

Brandon Krebs relieved Ostrander in the third and, despite walking two batters, kept the Dreadnaughts off the scoreboard.

Eric Newberry led off the fourth with a single for the Hornets. With one out, Bruley singled. Mitchell followed with an RBI double to left-center. Gordon stroked a two-run double to left. Justin Barnes singled to right to score another run. Goeman also singled home a run, as Saline took a 10-4 lead.

Krebs limited the Dreadnaughts to a single by Hart in the fourth.

Saline added a run in the fifth. Price singled to left with one out. Mitchell's two-out bunt single gave the Hornets two baserunners. Gordon drove in his third and fourth runs of the game with a single to center.

Dexter threatened in the fifth with Gowen's double and Sullivan reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. But Krebs struck out Schmidt to get out of the jam.

Saline put away Dexter for good in the sixth. Goeman started the rally with a two-out single. Matt Soper followed with a single and then Andrew Valentine drove them both in with a double down the third base line. Price scored Valentine with a single. Alex Farmer also doubled for Saline.

Krebs allowed a lead off single to Hart in the bottom of the inning but then struck out two Dreadnaughts before getting a pop up to end the game.