Johnny Dobbs' two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning broke a 6-6 tie and sent Washington past Mount Vernon, 8-6, Monday in the first round of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament at Marion.

Washington built a 5-1 lead in the first five innings behind the two-hit, 14-strikeout pitching of senior A.J. Puk. But Puk was done after five and the Warriors' defense deserted them in the bottom of the seventh when they committed four errors and Mount Vernon scored four runs to tie the game, 6-6.

Puk also contributed three hits, including a solo home run in the sixth inning.

“I was just trying to stay in the zone the first time through and mixed in some curves the second time through,” said Puk. “We faced some adversity, gained some experience, and came up with the win.  That makes it a success.”

Dobbs, Rocky Lombardi and Zac Gillis each collected a pair of hits with Dobbs’ two-run game winner the biggest blow.

“I was a little upset that the first pitch was called a strike, but the next pitch was a fastball up and I made good contact on it,” said Dobbs, a freshman.  “It was very important to win the first game; it gives us confidence for the next game.”

“It’s one game,” said Washington Coach Tony Lombardi.  “You always leave an impression.  We threw strikes and we got timely hitting. We also struggled a bit in the field, but we were aggressive and we will figure that out.  We have a long way to go, but it was a good start.”

Trey Ryan and Conner Welch each collected two hits for the Mustangs.

Game two between Marion and Kennedy was a suspended in the top of the seventh with the score tied at 2-2.  Kennedy's Jared Staton delivered a game-tying home run leading off the top of the seventh before lightning forced the suspension.

The Staton homer was Kennedy’s fourth hit and Marion had only managed three hits in what shook out as a pitchers duel. The game will be finished at Marion on Tuesday at 4:30 prior to the regularly scheduled tournament games.

WASHINGTON (8): Dostal, c, 5 0 1 0, Lombardi, ss, 4 2 2 1, Puk, p/1b, 4 1 3 1, Burdt, dh/p, 4 1 1 1, Rogers, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Dobbs, 3b, 3 2 2 2, Gillis, 1b, 3 1 2 1, Harrington, p, 0 0 0 0, Thulin, 2b, 1 0 1 0, Troendle, cf, 4 0 0 0, Akers, lf, 4 1 1 0, Herzog, cf, 3 0 0 0, Matsuda, ph, 1 0 1 1.  Totals 36 8 14 7.

MOUNT VERNON (6): Ryan, ss, 4 1 2 1, Drahos, 2b/p, 4 1 1 1, Welch, c, 4 1 2 0, Krayenbrink, p, 4 0 0 0, Eldred, 3b/p, 2 0 0 1, Pisarik, cf, 3 0 0 0, Wirfs, lf, 4 1 1 0, Shannon, 1b, 4 0 1 1, Dahlstrom, pr, 0 1 0 0, Goldsmith, dh, 4 1 0 0, Ketelsen, rf, 0 0 0 0, Hansen, rf, 0 0 0 0. Totals 37 6 7 4.

Washington    101 121 02 – 8 14 4
Mount Vernon 000 101 40 – 6  7 4

Puk, Harrington (6), Burdt (7) and Dostal. Krayenbrink, Drahos (4), Eldred (6) and Welch.  W - Burdt. L - Eldred. 2B – Welch. HR – Puk, Dobbs. SB – Dostal, Thulin, Burdt,Akers, Welch, Pisarik.