Sod Poodles Looking For A Game 2 Win Tonight!

Tuesday night, The Sod Poodles defeated the Tulsa Drillers 13-6 in front of 5,159 at HODGETOWN in game one of the Texas League Championship Series. After Tulsa came back late to even the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth, Amarillo exploded for a seven-run bottom half to propel the Sod Poodles ahead in the series.

Edward Olivares and Brad Zunica led the charge for the Sod Poodles in the eighth inning. Olivares belted a bases-clearing double to score three while Zunica collected a two-RBI double.

The Sod Poodles cruised into an early 3-0 lead over the Drillers in the bottom of the third inning. The inning began with Buddy Reed's solo home run to left-center field to make it a 1-0 contest. Taylor Trammell singled to right field and came around to score on an Ivan Castillo RBI single to center field. Castillo advanced to second on an Olivares ground out. Owen Miller then reached on a fielding error which allowed Castillo to score. The inning came to an end when Luis Torrens doubled to left field, but Miller was thrown out at home.

Tulsa answered back in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run from Cody Thomas to straightaway center field to cut the Sod Poodles lead to 3-1. Amarillo tacked on two runs to take a 5-1 lead. After Hudson Potts struck out to start the inning Overstreet doubled to left-center field. Reed followed with a walk to place runners on first and second base. Pitcher Lake Bachar advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Trammell followed with a two-run RBI single through the hole at second base before the inning came to an end.

Bachar exited after a solid four-inning performance where he only allowed one run on two hits. He struck out three batters in the no-decision.

In the fifth inning, the Drillers plated one run courtesy of a solo home run from Omar Estevez to make the score 5-2.

The Drillers narrowed the Amarillo lead to 5-3 in the seventh inning with a Donovan Casey solo home run to right-center field. In the bottom of the inning, Amarillo added a run back sparked by Torrens second double of the night to give the Sod Poodles a 6-3 lead.

Tulsa changed the momentum quickly when they scored three runs on three hits in the eighth inning to knot the ballgame up at 6-6. After a Jeter Downs single and Parmelee walk, Connor Wong hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game.

But, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Sod Poodles exploded for seven runs to take a 13-6 advantage. The inning started with a Reed double followed by Taylor Kohlwey reaching on a fielder's choice to place runners on first and second. The runners advanced to second and third on Trammell's sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to Castillo to load the bases, Olivares cleared them with a three-run RBI double to right-center field, sending HODGETOWN into a frenzy. Olivares advanced to third on Miller's groundout and eventually came home to score on a ball four wild pitch to Torrens. Following the walk, Potts singled to left field and Zunica delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double to right-center field. Reed capped off the seven-run inning with an RBI single through the hole at shortstop to score Zunica.

Amarillo turned to reliever Evan Miller in the ninth inning to close out the game for the Sod Poodles. Miller retired the side in order starting with a strikeout of pinch hitter Eric Peterson. Drew Avans followed with a fly out to center field. The last out came on a Downs ground out to the pitcher to seal the 13-6 victory for the Sod Poodles in game one of the Texas League Championship Series.

Elliot Ashbeck earned the win for the Soddies out of the bullpen going one inning where he allowed one run on two hits and striking out one Tulsa batter.

The Sod Poodles continue the Texas League Championship Series against the Tulsa Drillers Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.