MATEWAN — The Matewan Tigers baseball team pounded the Burch Bulldogs, 14-2, in five innings last night at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers scored early and often.

Matewan scored four runs in the first inning, five more in the second, two more in the third and the final three in the fourth.

“When we got on the bus, we weren’t ready to play,” Burch Coach James “Butch” Joplin said. “These guys are going to have to learn that they have to come out and fight for everything at Burch High School. Until they learn that, it’s always going to be like this. They need to realize you’ve got to have a different attitude to be a winner and they’re fighting me on it. But, I’m going to change their attitudes or we won’t have a baseball team.”

Burch scored its first run in the third inning when Zac Runyon smacked a double to score Jordan Croaff and make it a 9-1 game.

Croaff scored the Bulldogs’ final run in the fifth inning on an error.

Croaff and Runyon each hit a double for Burch. Ryan Hatfield hit a pair of singles, while A.D. Muncy and Keith Hill each hit a single.

Hatfield suffered the loss on the mound. He went the full five innings, giving up 14 runs on eight hits. He struck out three batters and walked nine.

Corey Cook pitched the win for the Tigers. He went three innings, striking out four batters and giving up a walk. Justin Bradford took the mound in relief in the fourth inning and finished the game.

Cook pounded a pair of doubles, Bradford hit two singles and Corey Lester, Grant Charles, Austin Reed and Chaz Clusky each had a basehit. Burch committed six errors.

“These kids played a good game,” Matewan Coach Danny “B.B.” Perkins said. Perkins played his junior varsity team the entire game.

“Burch is struggling, but they don’t quit. This gave everybody a chance to play. Everybody had fun and that’s what this is all about.”

Burch (0-9) returns to action tonight at Williamson in the Wooden Bat Tournament at Lefty Hamilton Park.

The Bulldogs play the host Williamson Wolfpack.

Matewan (5-9) stays home for a contest against Pike Central (Ky.) at 5 p.m.