Brent Heinen pitched for the Bulldogs, going all seven innings scattering seven hits and only giving up two earned runs. Heinen struck out six and walked only two in his seven innings of work.
Tyler Wuertz led the Bulldogs in hitting going 4-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Dustin Looman also had a good night going 2-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Paynesville took a quick lead in the bottom of the first when Ben Bork led off the game with a single and scored when Wuertz singled.
Paynesville fell behind in the third inning when Sauk Centre was able to get two runs on a two-run home run by Nick Winter.
Paynesville quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the third though, scoring three runs in the inning.
Brent Heinen reached on a fielder's choice following a Bork single. Then Looman came up and hit a two-run home run for Paynesville. Then Wuertz, Scott Braun, and Doug Fuchs all followed with singles with Fuchs driving in Wuertz to give Paynesville a 4-2 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth Paynesville would score four more runs. Looman walked, and Wuertz followed with a single. Braun reached on an error which scored Looman, then Fuchs singled again. Chad Fleischhacker followed with a single that scored two more and Paynesville was up 8-2.
The Bulldogs would add more runs as the game continued and were able to ten- run rule the Mainstreeters by a final of 12-2.
Paynesville 4
Melrose 2
Paynesville defeated Melrose 4-2, on Thursday in Melrose.
Doug Fuchs started for the Bulldogs and earned the victory going six innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out two and not walking anyone. Brent Heinen threw the last inning of relief, closing out the game for Paynesville.
Dustin Looman led the Bulldogs in hitting going 2-4 with two RBIs in the game. Tyler Wuertz, Scott Braun, and Heinen also had two hits each for Paynesville.
Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning when Paynesville got three runs in the top of the third. Adam Miller led off the inning with a walk. Ben Bork singled and Heinen then doubled and Miller scored. Looman then drove both Bork and Heinen in when he singled and Paynesville had a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third Melrose made it close getting two runs back to cut the Paynesville lead to one at 3-2.
That was as close as Melrose would get as Fuchs and Heinen kept them off the board the rest of the way and Paynesville would add an insurance run in the fifth to make the score 4-2.
The game would finish that way. Paynesville had a game Monday against Eden Valley and two games on Tuesday against St. Cloud Cathedral and BBE. which finished off the regular season. Paynesville will host Pierz in their first round playoff game on Thursday at 4:30. Paynesville was given the number two seed in the playoffs. If the Bulldogs win, they will face the winner of Melrose and Holdingford.
The Bulldogs defeated Eden Valley 10-9 on Monday in Paynesville. A full report will be in next week's Press.