The New Franklin Bulldogs evened their record to 10-10 in the final game of the regular season with an 8-7 win at Harrisburg on Monday night.

Tied 6-6 after five innings, the Bulldogs scored two runs in the top of the sixth on three singles, a double, and a walk to pull ahead by two.

Junior Lane Hackman led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a hard-hit fly-ball double to center by junior Nolan McGowan. Back-to-back RBI-singles by senior Brandon Phillips and junior Landon Shaw gave the Bulldogs a two-run advantage late in the game.

Harrisburg answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but couldn’t re-tie the game. With one out, senior Isaac DeMuth singled on a hard ground ball to center. He then scored from first when senior Keagan Morris drove a line drive to center for a single.

With one run separating the two teams, the New Franklin infield turned a double-play on a ground ball hit by sophomore Jayson Eskew to end the inning.

New Franklin had a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, but could not bring him home.

New Franklin retired the side in order in the final half-inning with back-to-back flyouts and a strikeout by freshman reliever Jonah Bishop to walk away with a one-run win.

Bishop closed out the final three innings for New Franklin, allowing one earned run on two hits without issuing a walk. He struck out two batters in his first-ever varsity win. Hackman got the start on the mound. He surrendered three runs (2 earned) on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Ryder Hopkins gave up three runs (1 earned) on three hits with no walks in two innings of relief.

New Franklin totaled nine hits on the day. McGowan, Phillips, and Bishop each had multi-hit games. McGowan had the team’s only extra-bases hit with a double. Shaw and junior Justin Hundley led the team with two RBI each.

Harrisburg senior Bryce Ott took the loss on the mound, pitching two innings of relief. He allowed two earned runs on four hits with four walks and a strikeout. Freshman Landon Atkins allowed six runs (3 earned) on five hits in the first three innings. He issued two walks and struck out two. Junior Chase Gray pitched the final two shutout innings with a walk and a strikeout.

Junior Hunter Caldwell hit a double and drove in two runs in four at-bats, with a run scored. DeMuth led the team in hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Atkins, Morris, and juniors Thomas Harrison and Dakota Harmon each singled.

Both teams now prepare for their respective district tournaments starting Thursday. Fifth-seeded Harrisburg takes on fourth-seeded Russellville in the Class 2 District 8 Tournament. Fourth-seeded New Franklin takes on fifth-seeded Jamestown in the Class 1 District 10 Tournament. (See brackets on Page 9.)