BOISE — Jerome (5-0) sprinted out of the gates with a nine-run inning in order to put away Sandpoint baseball 10-5 in the first game of the Bucks Bags Tournament Thursday afternoon.

Although the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 4-1 the rest of the way, the nine-inning hole was too much to overcome. And Jerome didn’t swing their way to their nine runs, either: Two lead-off walks and two batters hit by pitches got the train rolling in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers didn’t hit for extra bases in the first inning.

The Bulldogs staged a run thanks to the bottom of the order. Caleb Davis drew a five-pitch walk to start the second inning, then advanced to second on a single from freshman Ethan Butler. Connor Dodd’s four-pitch walk loaded the bases with no outs, opening the door for a big inning in response.

Momentum evaded the Bulldogs as quickly as it appeared. Tristan Authier and Billy Brackett grounded out to send in Davis and Butler, yet those runs were costly. Jerome pitcher Jarom Wallace and his defense were able to get out of the jam, putting the Bulldogs at arm’s length for the rest of the game.

Tyler Lehman’s triple in the third inning was a bright spot for the Bulldogs’ offense later in the game; the junior and the aforementioned Butler led the Bulldogs with two hits apiece. Kade McDonald did his job hitting cleanup by leading the way with two RBIs in three at-bats.

Sophomore lefty Max Thielbahr pitched valiantly to keep the Bulldogs in the game, but the offense couldn’t string together enough hits to stage a comeback. Thielbahr led the way in relief with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of play.

Jerome sophomore Dalan Thompson scored the game-winning tenth run after getting on base by being hit by a pitch, then advancing around the bases on wild pitches.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, something will have to give tomorrow. Sandpoint will be in search of its first win of the season against an 0-7 Mountain Home team at Skyview High School at 1 p.m.

Sandpoint 121 10 — 5 7 4

Jerome 900 1x — 10 6 4

Game called in 6th inning by run-rule.

W — Wallace, 4 (1-0). L —Bailey (0-1), Arroyo, Thielbahr

HITS: Jerome — Craig 2, Scarrow, Mills. 2B — Rue, Wallace. Sandpoint — Butler 2, Lehman, Bocksch, Authier, Dodd. 3B — Lehman