The Murphy varsity baseball team were in action against Hayesville in a two-game series.
The Bulldogs lost both games to fall to 4-4 in the Smoky Mountain Conference as they head to spring break.
The Dogs sit in fourth place in the SMC at press time.
Dogs fall 12-2
Murphy kicked off its series with the Yellow Jackets on the road on March 31. The Dogs fell 12-2 in six innings.
Hayesville got the game started with four runs in the bottom of the first inning, the tacked on three more in the second inning to lead 7-0.
The Jackets then added one more run to lead 8-0 through three innings.
After a scoreless fourth inning from both teams, the Dogs got on the board with one run in the fifth inning as they trailed 8-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Dogs scored another run to trail 8-2.
Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Jackets drove in four runs to lead 12-2, ending the game as they led by 10 runs after the fifth inning.
Murphy’s runs were scored by Cameron Clem and Colton Morgan. Clem, as well as Aayden Williams and Peyton Bain also got on base after being walked.
Williams also had the Dogs’ only stolen base in the game.
Hall, Bain and Zack Hogsed split pitching duties for the Dogs. They combined for nine strikeouts with Hogsed striking out seven and Bain getting two.
Dogs fall 11-3
The Bulldogs were back in action Thursday as they hosted the Yellow Jackets. Murphy lost to Hayesville 11-3, despite it being a tight pitching battle early.
The game started with two scoreless innings as Morgan and Hayesville’s Jackson Sellers battled on the mound.
The Bulldogs then broke through and got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning with one run.
The lead was short-lived as Hayesville tied the game in the top of the fourth inning.
The game remained tied 1-1 through the scoreless fifth inning as Morgan and Sellers continued their pitching dual.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets broke the game open as they drove in seven runs to take a 8-1 lead.
The Jackets added three more runs in the top of the seventh to lead 11-1.
Murphy stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning and drove in two runs, but couldn’t build a late rally.
The Dogs fell 11-3 as they were swept by the Jackets.
Murphy heads to spring break with a 5-7 overall record and are 4-4 in the SMC.
Up next
The Dogs will have a week off for spring break before returning to the diamond.
After spring break, they will face Andrews on the road Tuesday, then at home Friday, April 17. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
During the week, they will travel to Georgia to play Union County on Thursday, April 16, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m.