Jack Hoene drove in three runs and Brody Niebrugge turned in a strong pitching performance Friday afternoon, helping the St. Anthony Bulldogs post their first win of the season, a 5-2 decision at home over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.

Hoene drove in a run in the first with a ground ball and then put the Bulldogs ahead to stay with a two-run single in the second.

After giving up two runs in the opening inning, Niebrugge settled in and went five innings. He allowed just two hits and two runs, one of which was unearned. He walked three and struck out nine. Colton Fearday relieved in the sixth, and with two outs and two runners on base, Kennan Walsh came on to strike out the final batter and earn the save.

St. Anthony fell behind 2-0, but cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first. Logan Antrim drew a lead-off walk, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a ground ball by Hoene.

After two outs in the second, the Bulldogs put together what proved to be the winning rally. Eli Moore reached on an error, and Walsh and Antrim both walked to load the bases. Hoene then delivered a base hit up the middle that drove home two runs. He then stole second, and on the play, Antrim raced home with the third tally of the inning to give the hosts a 4-2 edge.

St. Anthony tacked on one more run in the fifth. Kaden Fearday walked, Davis Tingley singled and Fearday scored on a ground out by Aaron Webb.

The Bulldogs, now 1-2, will play today (Saturday) in the Wooden Bat Classic, hosted by Teutopolis.

The St. Anthony Bulldogs had runners all over the base paths Tuesday, but just couldn’t get those key hits.

The Bulldogs had five hits and received five walks, but left 11 runners stranded.

South Central only had six hits, but made them count, en route to a season-opening 4-2 victory at home over St. Anthony.

The Bulldogs were set down in order in the opening inning, but then had base runners in every inning the rest of the way. They stranded two in the second, third and seventh, and had the bases loaded with just one out in the fifth, but couldn’t get that timely hit.

South Central’s Chase Dodson pitched the first six innings to get the win. He allowed three hits and managed to work out of jams throughout the game.

But St. Anthony finally broke through in the seventh against Cougars’ reliever Hunter Brandt. Kaden Fearday led off with a walk and one out later, Jack Hoene got a base hit. Logan Antrim followed with an RBI single and Davis Tingley grounded out to drive in the second run. Aaron Webb then walked, but Brandt got the final out to seal the victory.

The Cougars scored single runs in the first and third and added two more in the fourth.

Hoene took the loss for St. Anthony. He went the first four innings, allowing six hits and four runs, three of which were earned. He walked two and struck out six. Fearday and Seth Hotze then each pitched an inning.

The Bulldogs return to action tonight with a 7 p.m. game at Teutopolis. They will also be in Teutopolis on Saturday, competing in the Wooden Bat Classic.