LIVE OAK, Fla. — Suwannee hit two home runs, played near-perfect defense, and gave up just three hits to defeat Madison County 8-0 on Tuesday in Justin Bruce’s head coaching debut with the Bulldogs. 

“It’s always nice in the home opener to have a few guys hit the ball out of the park,” Bruce said. “Overall, we had a really good performance pitching and swinging the bat from some of the big hitters in our lineup.”

Suwannee scored three runs in the first inning and two in the third to go ahead 5-0. With the way Braxton Furry was pitching, and the way his defense was playing behind him, SHS had complete control from the start. Furry didn’t allow a hit in four innings pitched.

The Bulldogs started the game exactly as they planned offensively. Wanting his standout catcher to see more fastballs, Bruce put Sam McMillan in the two-hole with some power hitters behind him to provide protection. In his first at-bat, McMillan deposited a fastball well over the fence in left field to give SHS a 2-0 lead.

One of those power hitters behind McMillan is first baseman Evan Johnson. Johnson also had a big night at the plate, going 3 for 3 with three RBIs. In his last at-bat, he lifted a high fastball for an opposite-field home run. 

“He’s worked extremely hard to be able to use the whole field,” Bruce said of Johnson. “It showed tonight with the opposite-field home run.”  

Six of Suwannee’s 11 hits went for extra-bases. Jackson Greene had three doubles and scored four runs.

Josh Wharton came on in relief of Furry and pitched two innings. After giving up back-to-back hits to start the sixth inning — the Cowboys’ first two hits of the game — Wharton caught a popup on a sacrifice bunt attempt and threw to Greene at second base for a double play to thwart Madison County’s best scoring chance.

Johnson took the mound in the seventh for Suwannee and struck out the side after giving up a leadoff single.

Bruce said doing the little things, like reading pitches in the dirt to take an extra base and being a good baserunning team is what can set his team apart this season. He said the Bulldogs did those little things well against MCHS. The only hiccup the Bulldogs had was a missed sign in the second inning that resulted in a caught stealing for the first out of the inning.    

Suwannee will play its next two away games in Georgia before hosting Lafayette on Tuesday.