The Bowie Jackrabbits won their regional quarterfinals series against Wall on Saturday after three games.
After winning game one on Thursday 9-5, the Eagles came back to win game two 6-3 before the Jackrabbits run-ruled them in game three 12-0 in six innings.
Wall came into the series as favorites, ranked 10th in the state in 3A despite the team being made up of mostly underclassmen. Bowie showed that type of acclaim would not matter in the first game, leading for most of it before retaking the lead in extra innings to win. After taking Friday off, the teams got together again to play game two on Saturday.
The Jackrabbits hoped they could close the series out with a win and not have it come down to a winner-take-all game three. Kawlyer Swearingin got the start on the mound. Despite giving up a walk and later a balk to move the runner into scoring position, no runs were scored from the Eagles in the first inning.
Bowie put a bit more pressure, with Carson Sanders and Kynan DeMoss drawing two walks. Later Devin Melton hit a groundball to the shortstop that induced an error that allowed one run to score and put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Wall got that run back in the second inning. A one out double and a passed ball put a runner on third base with one out. A groundout allowed the runner to score and tie the game at 1-1.
Bowie retook in the lead in the same inning. Logan Hutson got on base with one out thanks to an error at first base. Brody Armstrong followed with a single to left field. An error followed with the fielder trying to scoop the ball up off the ground that allowed runner A.J. Whatley to score after initially stopping at third base. The Jackrabbits led 2-1.
Wall would not go away though. A single and two walks loaded the bases up with one out in the third inning. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and was out at first, but it allowed one run to score.
A base hit into right field allowed another run to score for the Eagles. A blooper that just squeezed out of a diving Bowie fielder’s glove allowed an additional run to score, putting Wall up 4-2.
The Jackrabbits looked poised to respond as DeMoss led off with a single and Colton Richey and Swearingin drew walks with two outs to load the bases up. Unfortunately, the next batter popped up to the pitcher for out three.
Bowie responded with its first 1-2-3 inning of the game, with Swearingin striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Jackrabbits again had a chance to score with Armstrong leading off with a single and Sanders later drawing a walk with one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters hit harmless fly balls for outs.
In the fifth inning Wall added to its lead. After a leadoff single, a bunt induced an error to put runners at the corners with no outs. Following a groundout, the next batter hit a lineout to second base for out two. Trying to turn a double play, the throw was off and it allowed the runner at second base to score and put the Eagles up 5-2.
The Jackrabbits had no answer with their bats as the game moved to the sixth inning. Swearingin and the defense had another 1-2-3 inning, with two of the batters striking out. With the bats, Cade Thompson hit a double with two outs to try and spark something, but to no avail as the game went into the final inning.
Richey came in to pitch the final inning. A single and double were hit by the Hawks with one out. A deep fly ball to left field for out two allowed one runner to come in and score to make it 6-2. After a walk, the next batter flew out to centerfield for out three.
Bowie would need a big inning in its final three outs, but the team had put up four runs late in game one two days before. DeMoss and Fallis led off with back-to-back singles to get things going.
Following a fielder’s choice out at second base, Richey hit a deep fly ball for out two that still allowed one run to score and cut the lead to 6-3. Unfortunately, the next batter grounded out to end the game. Wall had tied the series at 1-1.
Despite not playing their best, Bowie had to quickly turn around and play game three 30 minutes after the end of game two. It was a different type of game with winner-take-all on the line.
Neither team had any luck getting anyone on base in the first inning. Bowie had Melton hit a one out single in the second inning only for the next batter to ground out into a double-play.
The Jackrabbits returned the favor in the same inning. The Hawks got two runners on with base hits, only for the inning to end with a double-play from Bowie.
The Jackrabbit bats and some mistakes from Wall got Bowie going in the third inning. Swearingin led off with a double. A sacrifice bunt allowed Swearingin to advance to third base.
Armstrong then hit a groundball that was too hot for the third basemen to handle for an error that led to the first run. Armstrong was able to advance to second on the same play before Thompson drove him in on a single.
Following Sanders hitting a single, DeMoss drove in another run on a base hit. Fallis then grounded out to the shortstop, but it allowed the fourth run to come in to score and put the Jackrabbits up 4-0.
Thompson got the start on the mound and did not allow another base runner in the third or fourth inning. In the fifth inning he allowed his only walk of the game with one out, but was rewarded by his defense again as they pulled off another inning ending double-play.
The sixth inning saw Bowie have an even bigger stretch with its bats. Melton hit a triple with one out.
A passed ball later allowed him to score. A hit batter and two drawn walks allowed the bases to get loaded. Armstrong came through with an infield single to score another run.
A drawn walk and hit batter from Thompson and Sanders allowed two more runs to score. DeMoss then hit a single up the middle to score another run. Fallis followed with a single to right field that drove in two runs. Finally, Melton drove in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly ball to right field to make it 12-0.
The Hawks were at a loss as they went through four pitchers in that same inning as the game slipped away.
Up by 10 or more after five innings would signal a stop to the game unless Wall could score three runs or more by the end of the inning.
Thompson and Bowie had too much momentum and retired the three batters with little trouble to end the game.
The Jackrabbits won game three 12-0 and the series 2-1.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.