Bulldogs put Merrillville away early with 11-hit attack, strong pitching from Ruiz

A USA-365.com Special Report by Frank Sprankle

5-19-2016

The Crown Point Bulldogs and the Merrillville Pirates gather for handshakes at home plate following the Bulldogs' 11-0 win in five innings on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at Merrillville High School. (Photo by Frank Sprankle)

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
CROWN POINT (13-9, 10-4 DAC)	5	6	0	0	0	-	-	11	11	0
Merrillville (6-15, 2-12 DAC)	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0	2

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 - Mostly sunny and 63-degrees, 4:30 p.m. start in MERRILLVILLE, IN

WP - Alex Ruiz: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K, 1 BB
LP - Brandon Lucero: 1.3 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 1 K, 1 BB

Crown Point Bulldogs (13-9, 10-4 in DAC)
Josh Lindeman (2B) 2-3, 2 singles, stolen base, 2 runs
Ty Wentz (PH) 0-0, walk
Charlie Patrick (CF) 1-2, triple, reached on error, 2 runs, RBI
Tyler Schoonover (PH) 0-1
Mark Mazure (1B) 1-3, single, run, RBI
Mike Wathier (PH) 0-1
Nick Ricci (DH) 1-2, single, walk, 2 runs, 2 RBIs
Justin Akers (C) 2-3, single, double, 2 runs
Brandon Haczynski (3B) 1-3, double, stolen base, run, RBI
Grayson Lynk (LF) 1-3, single, reached on error, stolen base, run
Luke Adams (SS) 1-2, single, RBI
Jake DeFries (PH) 1-1, single
Joey O’Keefe (RF) 0-2, RBI
Kyle Robinson (PH) 0-1

Merrillville Pirates (6-15, 2-12 in DAC)
Thomas Smith (3B) 0-2
Chad Deline (CF) 0-2
Darius Kendell (2B) 0-2
Brenden Bistrican (1B) 0-2
Brad Ronning (DH) 0-2
Jon Sutherland (C) 0-2
Ayron Williams (LF) 0-2
Sven Strom (SS) 0-1
Mike Pearson (RF) 0-0, walk

CROWN POINT (05-18-2016) Crown Point Bulldogs’ senior starting Alex Ruiz might not have given-up a hit in his outing, but his lineup made sure the game got out of reach by the second inning.

The Bulldogs scored 11 runs on 10 hits in the first two innings to give them their second win in back-to-back days over the Merrillville Pirates, the final DAC contest for both schools.

They picked-up an 11-0 win playing an abbreviated five innings. The Bulldogs batted around in the first two innings, sending nine to the plate in the first and 10 in the second.

Having defeated Merrillville at home the previous day, Crown Point’s bats got to work in a hurry. After two innings, the top seven in the lineup scored at least one run with four of the top five having scored two runs.

The Bulldogs chased Brandon Lucero out of the game in the second. The Pirates' starting freshman only went an inning and a third.

Ruiz, the Bulldogs starting lefthander retired the side in four of his five innings pitched. His only baserunner was Mike Pearson as the Pirates senior right fielder drew a two-out walk.

Both the Bulldogs and Pirates will match-up once again at Merrillville High School on May 26, in the first round of the Class 4A, Sectional 2 tournament.