The Bulldog baseball team came close to picking up a 5A win Tuesday against Hobbs on the road but were unable to create the breaks when they needed them in a double-header loss, 7-6 and 5-2.
The Artesia boys fell into an early hole in both contests that hampered their chances at a comeback. In the opener, after the ‘Dogs left the bases loaded following leadoff singles by Jett Fuentes and Nye Estrada, the Eagles were able to take three runs out of the bottom of the first on five hits and an error. Hobbs then made it 5-0 in the second on a two-RBI double by clean-up hitter Xavier Alvarado.
The Bulldogs were able to trim their deficit to two in the top of the third on a two-RBI double from Rickey Armendariz and a one-RBI two-bagger by Diego Morales, but the Eagles would tack on a pair of insurance runs in the fourth, scoring on a bases-loaded hit batsman and bases-loaded walk.
After plating one on a fly-ball-turned error in the sixth, the boys in orange looked to be mounting a rally in the seventh.
Estrada would reach second on an error to lead off and advanced to third on a wild pitch before crossing on a Brant Usherwood single up the middle. Jett Whitmire — aboard with a walk — came around on that hit as well, making it 7-6 with a runner on first and one out.
That runner would be thrown out attempting to steal second, however, and a grounder to the shortstop ended the threat and the contest.
Hobbs again took an early lead out of the opening innings in the nightcap, scoring one in the first on an RBI fielder’s choice and two apiece in the second and third. Both runs in the second were of the unearned variety, crossing on a bases-loaded walk and a sac fly, and a walk with three on and RBI fielder’s choice gave the Eagles their runs in the third.
The ‘Dogs struggled early against the pitching of Hobbs senior southpaw Jaysiah Martinez but were finally able to get on the board in the top of the fifth on a Whitmire RBI single and a wild pitch. That would be it offensively for Artesia, however, in the 5-2 loss.
The Bulldogs outhit Hobbs in both contests, 9-7 in Game One and 5-2 in Game Two. Morales was 2-3 at the plate in the opener with a double and one RBI, while Whitmire went 2-3 in the second game with one run batted in.
With the pair of losses, the ‘Dogs dropped to 6-9 on the season. They’ll have a week off to regroup before resuming the end of their regular-season schedule at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, against Roswell High and at 5 p.m. Friday, April 12, against Carlsbad, with both games at Brainard Park.