Cove Baseball closer to playoffs with 6-1 win at Killeen
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
KILLEEN - The Copperas Cove Bulldawg’ baseball team moved one step closer to a playoff berth with a 6-1 win over Killeen on Tuesday.
“We needed a big performance on the mound and that’s what Cameron (Johnson) gave us,” said Copperas Cove head baseball coach Dusty Brittain. “He was pounding the zone and making them have to earn everything.”
The Bulldawgs got on the board in the first inning on a Cameron Johnson sacrifice fly that plated Michael Goudeau, who reached on an error and advance to second on a hustle play. A single by Josh Ropple moved him to third before scoring on the sacrifice.
The Dawgs added another run on the second inning on a triple by Jaylen Smith. Izquierdo was knocked home from second after reaching on an error and stealing second base.
A wild pitch allowed the only Killeen run in the bottom of the second inning. Julien Jasmine scored from third after singling to reach and advancing to third on a wild pitch and ground out.
The Dawgs added three runs in the third inning. a single by Tyler Ingram, a triple by Izquierdo, and a sacrifice fly by Colby Jost accounted for the Cove offense.
The Dawgs added the final run in the top of the fifth inning. A triple by Ropple put a runner in scoring position for Johnson’s RBI single.
“The wind was tough today, so we just kept talking about execution,” said Brittain. “We took advantage sometimes, but we missed opportunities as well. We’re a work in progress and we’re trying to get ready for big things. Our focus is every little thing matters.”
Johnson picked up the win on the mound for the Bulldawgs. He surrendered one run on two hits while striking out ten in seven innings.
Johnson was 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs and Ropple was 2 for 2 with two runs and a walk to lead the Cove bats. Goudeau (1 for 4, R), Ingram (1 for 4, R, RBI), Izquierdo (1 for 3, R, RBI), Jacob Wagner (1 for 3) and Smith (1 for 3, R) contributed offensively.
Jake Escalante suffered the loss for Killeen. He allowed six runs on nine hits while striking out two and walking one in seven innings.
Jasmin (1 for 2, R) and Armando Lanzo (1 for 3) accounted for the Killeen hits.
The Dawgs play game two of the series with Killeen tonight at home with a lot on the line.
“Killeen at home on Friday is huge,” said Brittain. “It’s a must-win. I feel like if we can win on Friday, it puts us in a pretty good position to be in. Then, we can almost treat that Belton series like a playoff series.”