The New Franklin Bulldogs ran away with a 9-1 victory over Higbee on Thursday at home.

The Bulldogs strung together nine runs on seven hits and eight walks.

Drew Rhorer earned the win on the mound for New Franklin. The junior dished out 10 strikeouts during five innings in which he allowed only one earned run on one hit with three walks. He is now 2-0 on the season. Senior Clayton Wilmsmeyer struck out four batters while allowing two hits and issuing one walk in two innings of relief.

“Drew gave us a quality start tonight,” said New Franklin coach Erich Gerding.

After a scoreless first inning, New Franklin got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second. Higbee tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single by junior Will Spilman to score Chevy Grimsley.

The Bulldogs broke the game open with a two-out, bases-loaded triple by junior Tanner Bishop in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Clayton Wilmsmeyer followed up with a double to score Bishop from third and make the score 5-1.

New Franklin added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth on one hit, a double by junior Connor Wilmsmeyer, and four walks.

Sophomore Robert Smith took the loss on the mound for Higbee. He allowed four earned runs on one hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning pitched in relief. Grimsley started the game for the Tigers. In two innings, he allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks and recorded one strikeout.

Junior Will Spilman allowed four unearned runs on three hits and two walks in two innings of work. Derek Rockett finished the night on the hill for the Tigers. In one-and-one-third innings he gave up only one hit and issued one walk with four strikeouts.

Higbee went on to finish 1-2 during the Eugene Baseball Bash over the weekend. The Tigers are now 5-5 on the season and host the Higbee Tournament on Saturday. They kick things off against Sturgeon (3-4). 

New Franklin maintains a perfect record at 8-0 for the fall season. The Bulldogs were set to host Glasgow (2-3) on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. after this newspaper had gone to press. On Thursday, they travel to Sturgeon for a 6:30 p.m. tilt.