By Tom Dodge
Sports Editor
IOTA – The Bulldogs responded when pushed into a corner.
After falling 5-4 to South Beauregard in the opening game of the Class 3-A quarterfinal series, Iota answered with a pair of 6-0, 8-2 wins over the Knights.
With the victory, No. 3 Iota advanced to the state semifinals where the Bulldogs will take on No. 2 Brusly (28-11) at 4:30 p.m. today at McMurry Park in Sulphur.
No. 1 Sterlington (35-3) will face No. 4 Berwick (27-8) at 7:30 p.m. today in the other Class 3-A semifinal.
In the first game of the series, the Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Wyatt Beasley walked, Avery Davis was hit by a pitch and both scored on a single from Dylon Jimerez.
Iota closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Hunter Wriborg walked and pinch runner Gavin Credeur scored on a single by Dakota Breaux.
South Beauregard pushed another run across in the top of the fifth when Cohen Gray singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Lelond Broussard.
Iota closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the sxith frame when Wriborg walked and scored on a double by Breaux.
The Knights added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, begun when Hunter Singley singled and scored on a sacrifice by Broussard.
Beasley singled and scored on a double by Davis to push the Knights ahead, 5-2.
Iota fought back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh but the comeback fell short as Kameron Aucoin reached on a missed third strike and Tristan Miller blasted a two-out home run over the right field fence.
Chase Fisher earned the complete game win as he allowed four runs on five hits with two strike outs and two walks.
Tristan Miller took the complete game loss as he allowed five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Breaux went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Iota.
Beasley went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored to lead South Beauregard.
In the second game, Hunter Wriborg threw a one-hit shut out as Iota rolled a to a 6-0 win.
Iota scored in the first inning when Deven Mouton singled and crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs pushed across a run in the top of the third when Miller singled and scored on a wild pitch.
Iota added two runs in the fifth, begun when Trae Rambin walked and scored when Doughty reached on a Knight error.
Doughty scored on another South Beauregard miscue to increase the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-0.
Iota moved ahead 5-0 in the top of the sixth when Wriborg reached on an error and courtesy runner Chaynery Johnson scored on a hit by Breaux.
The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Doughty singled and scored on a hit by Mouton.
Avery Davis took the loss as he allowed five hits and two earned runs over six innings with three walks.
Mouton went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.
Doughty finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Jimerez went 1-for-3 for South Beauregard.
Iota then punched its ticket to the state tournament with an 8-2 win over the Knights.
After two scoreless innings, the Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the third begun when Rambin bunted and later scored on a balk.
Doughty singled and scored on a hit by Miller as the Bulldogs never trailed the rest of the game.
Iota pushed across two runs in the fourth, sparked by Breaux singled and scored on a hit by Rambin.
Mitchell Lege singled and courtesy runner Johnson scored on a wild pitch as the Bulldogs moved ahead, 4-0.
The Knights scored twice in the top of the fifth to close the gap to two runs, begun when Colin Langley doubled and scored when Wyatt Beasley reached on an error.
Davis singled in Beasley, but the Knights could not get any closer than 4-2.
Iota exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
Hunter Andrus opened with a double and pinch runner Johnson scored when Miller bunted into a fielder’s choice.
Rambin reached on an error and scored on a double by Mouton.
Wriborg singled in Miller, while Mouton scored on a sacrifice by Breaux.
Brett Spell earned the complete game win as he allowed two runs on five hits, striking out one and walking one.
Gunnor Morgan took the loss for South Beauregard as he allowed eight hits and four runs over four innings, striking out five and walking one.
Iota (32-6) finished with 11 hits, sparked by Rambin (2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS) and Andrew Ashby (2-for-3, BB).
Colin Langley went 2-for-3 to lead South Beauregard as the Knights (32-8) closed the season with most wins in school history.