Sports Editor

BRUNDIDGE – The Pike County Bulldogs spotted Zion Chapel a 2-0 lead in the first and then pounded out 10 hits in the final six innings to win going away, 10-4.

The win, coupled with a 9-3 area victory over Luverne on Monday, upped PCHS’s record to 9-8 on the season.

Bulldogs’ head coach Fred Holland said his team is learning to play better defensive baseball.

"We’re coming along on defense and we’ve been getting our pitchers to concentrate more on throwing strikes and letting the defense work behind you," he said. "It’s not always about

overpowering people at the plate."

Holland used both sophomore Chris Nickson and freshman D.J. Cannon on the mound Thursday, with Nickson picking up the win in four and a third innings of work. Cannon closed the game, striking out three batters and giving up only one earned run.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 3-3 in the second inning as Lonzo Foster and Nickson both had RBI singles. Pike County took the lead for good in the third when Elijah Daniel scored on an outfield hit by Rodney Lee.

Dee Price was 3-for-4 , getting three straight singles in the second, third and fourth innings of play. The junior’s right field rip scored both Josh Daniel and Cannon, pushing PCHS’s advantage to five runs headed into to the top of the fifth, 8-3.

Nickson combined with Josh and Elijah Daniel to keep the hits coming in the Bulldogs’ half of the fifth. With two outs, Nickson stretched a hit into a triple and the Daniel brothers both had doubles as two more runs came home.

The defense, as Holland had hoped, also did its job.

Zion Chapel’s Josh Smith was robbed of a chance to load the bases in the third when Josh Daniel came off first and snagged a sure single. Nickson outraced Smith to the bag for the catch from Daniel and the third out.

Elijah Daniel was 2-for-2, as was Nickson. Cannon, Foster and Josh Daniel also had hits for the Bulldogs.

Pike County plays at Bullock County on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.