After a dramatic run to make the playoffs, the Marlboro County High baseball team ran out of gas. The Bulldogs dropped back-to-back contests, ending their season.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs gave up two runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to Strom Thurmond High, falling 5-2.
Marlboro County had a chance to blow the game open in the first inning. Singles by Michael Norris and Braxton Hunt, plus a walk by Jesse Williams loaded the bases with two outs. However, a strikeout ended the threat.
The Bulldogs got on the board first, nevertheless, in the third inning. Tanner Cheek led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tristan Hunt. Cheek stole third and scored on a passed ball.
Marlboro made it 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Braxton Hunt singled to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice by Adam Nolan.
A single by Levi Radford allowed Hunt to score. Brandon Murphy followed with a single but the Bulldogs ran themselves out of the inning, as Radford was caught stealing.
The Rebels tied the game in the bottom of the inning. After loading the bases, a two-out double drove in a pair of runs.
Strom Thurmond took the lead in the fifth, again getting the key hit with two outs. They added another run in the sixth, aided by another Marlboro error.
The Bulldogs got singles by Cheek and Norris in their final at-bat but could not get the critical hit to drive in runs.
Marlboro out-hit their hosts, 11-7. Braxton Hunt led the way, going 3 for 3. Radford was 2 for 3 and Norris 3 for 4.
Cheek pitched the first four and two-thirds, striking out 4 while allowing six hits. Williams finished the game, striking out four, allowing one hit.
Monday, the season came to a close in a disappointing way at Gliarmis Field.
Bishop England broke open a tight game by pouring in 10 unanswered runs in their final two at-bats to defeat the Bulldogs, 12-1.
Again, Marlboro County took the early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning.
Norris smashed a two-out double to left field and was driven in on a single by Williams.
The Bishops took the lead in the fourth. Back-to-back walks and a defensive interference call put runners on second and third. A throwing error after a Bishop England bunt allowed the two runners to score.
Back-to-back errors led to another run to start the fifth. By the time the Bulldogs could record a third out, the score was 7-1.
Things went from bad to worse in the sixth, as the visitors poured in five more runs. The game was stopped after the Bulldogs failed to score in the bottom of the sixth.
The Bishops only registered eight hits but were assisted by six walks and three Marlboro errors. After the first inning, Marlboro County managed just three more hits.
Williams was 2 for 3 in his final game as a Bulldog. He also started on the mound, striking out three while allowing four hits. Norris and Tristan Hunt also pitched for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs wrap up the season with a 13-6 overall record. They were 8-2 in Region 6-AAA and were co-champions with Lakewood.