DALLAS, TX -- Ryder Bunfill's two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth gave the Friars a 3-0 lead that they would hold onto to defeat Central Catholic to advance to the TAPPS Division 1 Regionals. This is the baseball program's first playoff win in Roffino Stadium since 2021 and the third consecutive year they have won the first playoff game. 

What else can you say about Brandon Bertsch? The senior didn't have his best stuff on Tuesday night yet still managed to throw 6.0 innings while only giving up one hit and zero runs while striking out seven.

Bertsch was a little erratic on the mound, as he threw for a season-high seven walks. Despite the walks, Bertsh or the defense behind him always seemed to make the big play at the right time.

In the first inning, Bertsch got the third out via a strikeout with the bases loaded. In the second inning - after a leadoff walk - Xavier Perdomo had a 6-3 double play to end the inning. Bertsch finally found a groove in the third through the fifth inning, as the lefty retired nine of the 11 batters he faced.

By this point, the Friars had built a 1-0 lead with some small ball in the bottom of the fifth. After being held scoreless through the first four innings, Will Maya drew a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt by Josh Thornhill and Brady Bertsch stealing third, Sam Elrich had an RBI ground out to score Bertsch and take a 1-0 lead.

In the sixth inning, Bertsch gave up a leadoff single - the Buttons only hit of the ballgame - and another reached via an error. There were two on and one out when Bertsch made a great move on the mound to throw out the runner trying to steal second. He would then strike out the final batter of the inning to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Friar offense came together to add some insurance runs. A leadoff single by Perdomo, followed by a walk by Luke Sokolovic put the Friars in prime position to get some runs. Grayson Wise advanced the runners via a sacrifice bunt and then Central Catholic intentionally walked Ben McLean to load the bases for Ryder Bunfill. After going down 0-2, Bunfill had the hit of the game right between the first and second basemen that would score two and make it 3-0 Friars.

Elrich came on for relief and earned his first save of the season, retiring three of the four hitters he faced while striking out one.

This win for the Friars gives them 29 wins on the season, which is a Bishop Lynch baseball new single-season win total. That wasn't the only outstanding history made on Tuesday night on McIngvale Field. Brandon Bertsch reached 100 strikeouts on the season, which is only the second time a Friar has reached 100+ strikeouts in a season, joining Paul Brand '92 who struck out 112 batters his senior year. Bertsch currently sits at 104 strikeouts.

NEXT UP:
The Friars will now have the pleasure of traveling to Tomball to face the southern division's number one team, Concordia Lutheran. The two teams will play a three-game series:

Game #1 - 5/8 7:00 PM
Game #2 - 5/9 1:00 PM
Game #3 (If Necessary) - 5/9 4:00 PM

TAPPS PLAYOFF RESULTS:
2-4 Antonian defeated 1-5 Nolan Catholic, 7-1
1-3 John Paul II defeated Cathedral, 10-4
2-3 St. Pius X defeated 1-6 Parish, 6-5

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