The Taylor Ducks varsity baseball team was swept by the Burnet Bulldogs this past week, falling 16-5 on Tuesday, March 31, before dropping an 11-4 decision on Thursday, April 2.
Game One
The Ducks were run-ruled in six innings as they struggled on the mound early, surrendering eight runs in the first inning.
Julian Gomez got the start but was unable to record an out, allowing seven runs on three hits. Mason Sunvision came on in relief.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple. Burnet also capitalized on a walk, an error and another triple in the frame.
Taylor went scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, and Burnet added three more runs in the second to extend the lead to 11-0.
The Ducks answered with two runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Sunvision and a passed ball on a strikeout, cutting the deficit to 11-2.
Burnet regained a double-digit lead in the fourth, but Taylor responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, aided by an error, to make it 12-4.
Caleb Pachicano added an RBI double in the fifth to trim the deficit to 12-5.
However, a four-run sixth inning by the Bulldogs secured the run-rule victory.
Taylor’s offense struggled throughout, striking out 12 times in the contest.
Game Two
The Ducks were more competitive in the second game, holding a 4-1 lead after two innings, but Burnet responded with 10 unanswered runs over the next five innings.
Sophomore utility player Tayden Talley got off to a strong start, allowing just one run through the first two innings, but was pulled after giving up four runs in the third and fourth.
Taylor opened the scoring on a groundout to take a 1-0 lead, but Burnet tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single.
The Ducks answered with an RBI single from Sunvision and added runs on a fielder’s choice and an error to take a 4-1 advantage.
The lead was shortlived, as the Bulldogs scored two runs in the third inning and added three more in the fourth to go ahead 6-4.
Taylor’s offense went cold the rest of the way, going down in order in the fifth and managing just one baserunner in the sixth on a hit-by-pitch.
Burnet added five more runs to close out the game, while the Ducks failed to record another hit.
The Ducks fell to 3-15 overall and 1-5 in district play as struggles continue this season. Taylor will look to turn things around against Gateway on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. on the road.
