Dulay the inevitable: Ursuline pitcher drives in winning run vs. Springfield

Dulay the inevitable: Ursuline pitcher

drives in winning run vs. Springfield

By Steve Wilaj

sports@vindy.com

New Middletown

For the previous three innings, Ursuline pitcher Bobby Dulay avoided surrendering the clutch hit to Springfield.

So when the senior righty came to the plate in the top of the eighth with one out and the go-ahead run on second, he showed the Tigers how it was done.

Delivering what proved to be the game-winning hit, Dulay scorched a line-drive single to center field to score Logan Pullin as the Irish downed Springfield, 4-3, in eight innings.

Joel Hake then retired the Tigers (12-3) in order in the bottom of the eighth to earn the save and clinch the victory for Dulay, who pitched 21/3 scoreless and hitless relief innings.

“Bobby’s been swinging the bat well,” Ursuline coach Sean Durkin said. “We needed someone to come through with the clutch hit and that’s what seniors are there for.”

Pullin walked to start the eighth and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt. Dulay’s hit then came on a 2-1 pitch off of Springfield pitcher Hunter Snyder, who was on in relief of starter Russell Seymour.

“I was just looking for a fastball and a good pitch to hit,” Dulay said. “I got my fastball and just put a good swing on it. We missed some big hits early, but in the end we came back and got the win and that’s the important thing.”

Although the Irish (7-2) jumped out to a 3-1 fourth inning advantage, they missed their chance to lengthen the lead. Ursuline scored two third-inning runs on two Springfield errors, but left runners on second and third with three consecutive strikeouts.

“We had some opportunities where we should have been able to take advantage of, but we didn’t,” Durkin said. “Springfield’s a well coached team and they weren’t going anywhere.”

After another Springfield error allowed a fourth-inning Irish run, the Tigers fought back to tie the contest in the fifth.

Ryan Kohler scored on a throwing error following a Snyder single. Brandon Chamberlain then notched the game-tying single to knock Ursuline starter Vinnie Lucente from the game.

Lucente went 42/3 innings as he allowed two earned runs on four hits, four walks and six strikeouts. His counterpart -- Springfield starter Seymour -- went seven innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits, six strikeouts and five walks.

“We didn’t execute tonight the way that we have been,” Tigers coach Matt Weymer said. “In the third inning they scored two runs without getting the ball out of the infield because we couldn’t field a bunt and threw the ball into center field.

“I thought Russ threw great on the mound, but we just didn’t execute the way we needed to tonight.”

Springfield loaded the bases in the sixth on two walks and a hit batter. But Dulay escaped unharmed when right fielder Zach Patton made a diving catch on a Snyder line drive.

“Hunter is a great hitter and I was trying to throw good fastballs and trying to locate my curveball,” said Dulay, who wlaked four and struck out two. “Luckily I threw a good curve and Zach made a great play.”