Carthage Takes Class 3A Region III Quarterfinal Series Lead with 2-0 Victory Over China Spring

MESQUITE -- JayDon Day delivered again Friday for the Carthage Bulldogs.

The senior right-hander pitched a three-hit shutout to lead Carthage to a 2-0 victory against China Spring in Game 1 of a Class 3A Region III quarterfinal baseball series at Tillery Field.

Day, who entered the game with a 1.67 earned run average, improved to 9-4 this season. The shutout was his third of the year and his seventh complete game. He struck out six and walked none in the win, which pushed Carthage's record to 28-7.

Game 2 is 2 p.m. Saturday at Tillery Field. If China Spring (26-10) wins, Game 3 will follow soon after Game 2's conclusion. The series winner plays Silsbee or Orangefield in the 3A Region III semifinal round. Silsbee won Thursday's Game 1, 5-1, but Orangefield won Friday's Game 2, 5-3. The teams play a deciding Game 3 at 2 p.m. Saturday in Vidor.

Carthage's Tyler Musgrove provided an RBI double in Friday's win, while Blake Bogenschutz had two hits. Bogenschutz entered the game hitting .429 in the Bulldogs last 14 contests.

Junior right-hander William Rittenberry is Carthage's likely starter for Saturday's Game 2. Rittenberry is 8-1 with a 0.67 ERA.