Early, the District 8-3A runner-up, ended its campaign with an 18-6 record while District 7-3A third seed Bowie (22-10) moves on to face either District 5-3A champion Reagan County or District 6-3A fourth seed Ballinger in the area round of the playoffs next weekend.
In the decisive third game Saturday afternoon, Bowie scored three runs in the top of the third inning and added two more insurance runs in the seventh after escaping a Longhorn threat in the bottom of the sixth.
Early was limited to one hit until the bottom of the sixth inning when Rylie Hill and Caleb McCullough began the frame with back-to-back singles, but Bradley Roman then grounded into a double play and Franky Villarreal flew out.
In the seventh, Jaxyn Price led off with a double but was retired at the plate following a single by Tucker Hale. Gavin Sanders singled and John-Stewart Gordon then walked to load the bases, and Jeremy Brown came through with an RBI single to cut Bowie’s lead to 5-1.
Still with one out, Kynan Demoss came on in relief of Bowie starting pitcher Cade Thompson, who gave up one run on seven hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 6.1 innings. Demoss immediately got Hill to line into a double play at third base, ending the Longhorns’ season.
On the mound for Early, Roman surrendered five runs – four earned – on 10 hits with two strikeouts over 6.1 innings. Ethan Palette recorded the final two outs.
Brown, Hill, McCullough, Price, Hale, Sanders and Gordon tallied Early’s hits.
In Game 2 of the series that began Saturday’s doubleheader, the Longhorns dropped a 6-2 decision.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning, Bowie grabbed the lead with a pair of runs then tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Early was limited to just four hits by Bowie pitcher Kawlyer Swearingin, who went the distance and struck out 12 with four walks.
Villarreal recorded a hit and drove in both of the Longhorn runs – on an RBI single in the first inning and an RBI ground out in the third – while Hill, Price and Roman also contributed singles.
On the mound for Early, Hill gave up six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and two walks over five innings. Sanders and Palette worked an inning of relief apiece.