During the regular season the Bulls often had to rely on solid pitching and timely hitting to win games. There were occasions, like game two of the series Saturday, when the other team out hit the Bulls and still lost. But that wasn't the case Sunday night in Medicine Hat, as the Bulls bashed out 17 hits for a 16-10 win over the Mavericks and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five divisional semi-final series.
 

The Bulls led 2-1 after the first inning with lead off hitter Joel Blake scoring on a wild pitch, and Jesse Sawyer getting a base hit to drive in Eric Dorton. It was a sign of things to come for Blake and Sawyer, the South Dakota State teammates who are in their second seasons with the Bulls.
 
In the second inning Blake drove in two runs with a base hit. A double by Dorton brought in two more, and Sawyer slammed a three run homer.
 
But every time it looked like the Bulls put the game out of reach Medicine Hat responded to close the gap. The Bulls led 10-6 after three innings and 11-8 after six.
 
Four more runs in the top of eighth made it a 15-8. Dorton led off with a base hit, Zach Rhodes and Sawyer walked to load the bases, and Josh Lowden followed with a two RBI double. A ground out by Brendan Miller scored Sawyer, and Scott Hornstra's second double of the game brought Lowden home.
 
The Bulls used seven pitchers in the game. Jared Mortenson got the win in relief of starter Matt Bannister.  Mortenson entered with one out in the second inning. He pitched two and two-thirds innings, gave up two hits and didn't allow a run. Taylor Reid, Richard Pharr, Ariel Perez, Jimmy Munnil, and Mitch Schaafsma followed in that order. All of them pitched one inning.
 
Sawyer lead a 17 hit attack, going 3 for 5 with five RBI's and a three run homer. It was the perfect way for the Bulls third baseman to respond following his struggles at the plate in game two, when he struck out three times and was 0 for 4.
 
Everyone in the line-up had at least one hit. Hornstra was 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Blake went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Dorton was 2 for 5 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Ryan MacDonald went 2 for 4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
 
Medicine Hat hosts game four of the series Monday night. If a fifth game is needed it will be played at Spitz Stadium Tuesday night.