PORT NECHES — Once again, Nederland has bounced back from a Game 1 home loss in the 5A playoffs.

And now, baseball’s own Mid-County Madness will be settled on neutral turf.

A four-hit fourth inning by Nederland produced two runs, and the Bulldogs weathered a scoring threat by host Port Neches-Groves to take a 3-0 win on Friday night and even the 5A Region III quarterfinal series at one game apiece.

Next up for the latest rivalry installment: Lamar University’s Vincent-Beck Stadium for Game 3. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

“We came out different with more energy,” said sophomore Rene Cunningham, who went 2 for 3.”

The last time both teams squared off in the postseason, it was the same round in what was Class 4A 20 years ago. Nederland recovered from a Game 1 loss to win the next two.

The 2019 Bulldogs (21-11-2) are hoping for the same luck tonight. Sophomore Wade Butler recalled the message between Games 1 and 2 of this series.
“Have the same confidence as you did when Round 1 was being played, and just come out and play your game,” Butler said.

Noah Gregory posted two strikeouts and held PNG (21-14-1) to two hits on 90 pitches in a complete-game victory. He twirled perfect innings in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh.

“From the start and in the bullpen, I felt good and I knew it. I was just ready to play, so that helped me out a lot,” Gregory said.

Indians junior Carson Roccaforte threw three hitless innings until the top of the fourth, when first cousin Adam Roccaforte led off with a bunt that took a wicked bounce into shallow right-center. Two outs later, Butler delivered a triple to center to bring Adam home.

“I’ve been slow, kind of, starting the playoffs,” Butler said. “Getting that hit boosted my confidence a lot.”

Cunningham continued the rally with a hard single to right to plate Adam, and Kamden Grant singled to left.

Carson Roccaforte still finished with nine strikeouts despite scattering six hits in the loss. Brian Davila had Nederland’s other hit off him in the fifth.

The Indians lodged a threat in the bottom of the fifth thanks to walks for Josh Hranicky and Carson Roccaforte and Cade Billeaud advancing on a wild pitch. Butler threw out Hranicky at the plate on Dean Guidry’s fielder’s choice for the second out, and Ryan Sosa flew out to end the inning.

“My team just kept going for me,” Gregory said. “They just caught balls that I didn’t think would ever be caught. That just helped me push through and help me keep battling.”

In the seventh Cunningham sprinted all the way home from first base after a throw to second in a rundown went all the way into deep left-center.

“I’ve always got to use that speed,” Cunningham said. “Speed kills.”

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

**UPDATED with new game time**