Hueston Morrill struck out 13 to lead Suwannee past Columbia. 

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Suwannee ace Hueston Morrill is the type of overpowering pitcher that doesn’t require much run support.   

He only needed one run on Friday as the Bulldogs defeated rival Columbia 1-0 in front of a large crowd at Booster Field. 

Morrill struck out 13 and allowed just three hits in his second complete-game shutout of the season. The Bulldogs scored in the sixth inning when Josh Wharton was able to get a bunt down on a high and inside pitch to score Marquis Jones.  

“Hueston has proven he can carry this team,” said Suwannee coach Justin Bruce. “We’re not scoring a lot of runs, but at the end of the day we get a big squeeze from Josh Wharton and finally we give our pitcher a break.” 

Jones started the sixth inning by hustling out a ground ball and beating the throw to first base. He then stole second base, moved over to third on a ground ball, and came in on Wharton’s suicide squeeze bunt.  

“Josh has come through with a couple of big bunts,” said Bruce. “I’ve got full faith whenever he comes up that he’s going to get it done because he’s been our guy to do that. 

“We told the team, ‘one play is going to break this game open.’ Marquis gets on with hustle. He steals second — bang-bang play — slides in because of his effort. Two or three plays together getting us that run — that’s what separated this game.”

Columbia (9-9) starter Daveion Love settled down after the first inning to make it a pitchers’ duel with Morrill. After giving up three hits in the first and getting out of a bases-load jam unscathed, Love held Suwannee hitless in the final six innings.   

The Tigers’ best scoring chance came in the fifth inning. With Dylan Blair on second base and no outs, CHS tried a sacrifice bunt to move him to third. But Morrill got off the mound quickly to field the bunt and tossed to Jones at third to get the first out of the inning. Morrill struck out the next two hitters to end the inning. 

Morrill improved to 4-2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.18. 

UP NEXT: Suwannee (10-9) plays at Lowndes on Tuesday. 

Box score

								R	H	E
Columbia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
Suwannee	0	0	0	0	0	1	–	1	3	1

H Morrill — 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 13 strikeouts

Bonds — 1-2, BB

W Morrill — 1-3

Jones — 1-2, HBP, 1 stolen base, 1 run

Wharton — 0-2, RBI