Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – In a series in which base runners were at an extreme premium, Red River loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning needing one run to tie the game.

Three-hole hitter Chris Carper was at the plate, and a base hit not only keeps the No. 4 seed Bulldogs’ season alive, it likely wins the game by driving in multiple runs and to send Red River to its first-ever trip to Sulphur for the state tournament.

But Carper grounded into a fielder’s choice, and No. 5 Doyle clung to its 2-1 edge to win the series finale and take that Sulphur trip for themselves.

Doyle tossed a no-hitter in game one for the 1-0 win Friday before Red River bounced back with a 1-0 win in the early game Saturday.

The Bulldogs (25-10) still made program history with their first-ever quarterfinals trip. Red River earned a bye in the first round and handled Pine Prairie in the second round.

Red River started the season 10-0 and set a program record for wins in head coach Todd Moore’s first season with the program.

Doyle 2, Red River 1 (Third Game)

Red River’s pitching was spot on in all three games, but reliever Tyler Hughes started the eighth inning with a hit-by-pitch and a walk.

The last of Red River’s three errors proved costly as Doyle scored the go-ahead run on an error.

A trio of Red River arms (John Dickey, Jaxun Moore and Hughes) didn’t allow an earned run.

Doyle dented the scoreboard first in the fifth inning on a Jacksen McCaskill RBI single, an unearned run since the base runner reached on an error.

The damage could have been worse as a walk loaded the bases for Doyle, but centerfielder Kenneth Lazarus caught a line drive to end the inning.

Two of Doyle’s three hits came in that fifth inning as Dickey allowed just two hits and the unearned run in 4 1/3 innings.

Moore allowed one hit in 1 2/3 relief innings before Hughes came on and surrendered the unearned run on just a walk and a hit-by-pitch in two innings.

Red River’s run wasn’t earned either as the Bulldogs answered Doyle in the sixth inning to tie the game.

Hughes was hit by a pitch, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball and resulting error.

Doyle’s Dathan Cummings held Red River at bay with just two hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in seven innings. Reliever Conner Fairburn got the win with one scoreless inning.

Red River 1, Doyle 0 (Second Game)

Red River rustled up a sixth inning run on a Lazarus RBI single for the game’s only run early Saturday.

Eli Murphy led off the inning with a double and came home for the winning run.

Bulldogs’ ace Hughes twirled a shutout by scattering four hits and striking out four.

Carper, Moore and Hunter Tingle also turned in hits.

The win forced the if-necessary game.

Doyle 1, Red River 0 (First Game)

Doyle’s Caiden Barcia no-hit Red River while striking out 14 batters as the Tigers gained a series lead with the 1-0 win.

The game’s only run came on a Braxton Stewart RBI single with two outs as Doyle collected three of its five hits in the opening frame.

Pitcher Aston Hester stoned Doyle’s bats from then on, finishing with five hits and two walks and strikeouts.

Red River’s best scoring chance came in the third inning in which a pair of Bulldogs walked with one out, but Barcia recorded two outs to strand the runner on third base.

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