ROGERS — Fayetteville's tenacity at the plate and on the mound were too much for Rogers Heritage on Wednesday afternoon.
Seven of the Bulldogs' starters managed at least one hit as Fayetteville run-ruled the War Eagles 11-1 a battle of 7A/6A-West Conference co-leaders.
Game 1
Fayetteville 11, Rogers Heritage 1
Fayetteville^300^323^—^11^9^1
Heritage^010^000^—^1^4^3
Pagnozzi and Koch, Jordan (6); Murphy, Sanchez (4), Lamproe (6) and Norris. W-Pagnozzi, 6-0. L-Murphy, 3-1. HRs-Fayetteville, Davenport (4), Heritage, Murphy (2).
Game 2
Fayetteville 12 Rogers Heritage 0
Fayetteville^631^11^—^12^13^2
Heritage^000^00^—^0^1^4
Pate and Koch, Jordan (3); Wetzler, McKaughan (1), Cooper (3), Mason (5) and Norris, Lamproe (2). W-Pate, 4-2. L-Wetzler, 3-1. HRs-Fayetteville, Tyler (4).
Fayetteville got all the runs it would need with a three-run top of the first. Cody Davenport's two-run homer was the big blow, but Grant Koch's run-scoring double on the 11th pitch of the at-bat illustrated what the Bulldogs hitters did much of the game.
The 'Dogs hitters fouled off pitches left and right against Heritage starter Kacey Murphy (3-1) and drove the junior left-hander out of the game in the fourth inning after allowing six runs and throwing 95 pitches.
"That's what we talked about, elevating his pitch count," Fayetteville coach Vance Arnold said. "Grant Koch had like a 12-pitch at bat and Connor Shaw had a 12 or 14-pitch at bat. When he had to come in to us we did a pretty good job of hitting the ball."
That three-run first was all the support needed for Fayetteville pitcher Andy Pagnozzi (6-0). The Ole Miss commit scattered four hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter in the complete-game victory.
"Andy went out and did his job," Arnold said. "He threw his change-up and curve and pounded his fastball. He gave up four hits, but spread them out."
Kyle Pate and Alan Dunn each went 2-for-4 to lead the Fayetteville attack. Davenport and Pate drove in two runs each. Pagnozzi and Drew Tyler each went 1-for-2, drove a run and scored two.
Heritage coach Keith Kilgore agreed Fayetteville's plate discipline was outstanding and so was Pagnozzi.
"They battled at the plate," Kilgore said. "We worked ahead and were throwing strikes. I don't know how many foul balls they hit at times. That works your pitch count up. They did what they needed to do at the plate. You've got to tip your hat to Pagnozzi. He was in command of threw pitches. He was in full control."
Murphy's solo home run in the second inning account for Heritage's only run, while Brandon Norris went 2-for-2 with two singles.
Game 2
Fayetteville 12, Rogers Heritage 0
Pate tossed a one-hitter and struck out 12 as the Purple Bulldogs rolled to the five-inning win in the nightcap.
Fayetteville (16-3, 6-0 7A/6A-West) is now all alone atop the conference standings at the end of the night. The Purple'Dogs banged out 13 hits and scored six in the top of the first to quickly take control. Heritage dropped to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the league.
Pagnozzi, Davenport, Koch and Drew Tyler had two hits apiece. Tyler crushed a three-run homer, his fourth of the season, to give Fayetteville a 9-0 lead in the top of the second. Tyler drove in three runs and scored twice.
But Pate (4-2) was in control like Pagnozzi in the opener. The only hit allowed by the senior was a lead-off single by Daniel Sanchez in the bottom of the fifth. He walked only one batter.
Sports on 04/10/2014