HAMLER — Swanton struggled in close games during the spring, as the Bulldogs had a .500 record in games decided by two runs or less and lost nearly 70% of such games in the second half of the season.

The Bulldogs were again tested late in Thursday’s ACME baseball game with Patrick Henry, as a five-run lead dissipated to a one-run advantage with the bases loaded and just one out.

But Carson Bond, one of the returning veterans for Swanton, lifted the Bulldogs to an 8-7 win over the Patriots at Garrold Parratt Field.

“It’s huge because I put all my young guys in there for the last inning defensively, and it showed,” Swanton coach Josh Siewert said, alluding to an array of defensive substitutions he made for the seventh inning. “But like I told them, they have to learn from this.

“They haven’t got that chance to be in the big spot yet, and they have to learn from that.”

Taking advantage of four seventh-inning errors and a pair of grounders within reach of the Bulldogs’ first baseman, Patrick Henry’s first six batters of the final frame reached base — scoring three runs to come within 8-6.

The fourth error was a high fly-ball up the first-base line, but the ball was dropped which loaded the bases for PH.

Swanton, in response, brought in Bond to pitch and he coaxed three-straight outs to end the game.

Bond also spearheaded the Bulldogs at the plate, as he ripped a double deep into left field before belting a two-run home run toward the same spot for an 8-3 lead in the seventh inning.

“He just wants the ball. He had a great spring for us, and he wants to take that next step,” Siewert said of Bond. “He saw a couple of the awards some guys got and he got some awards this spring, but he’s ready to take that next step.”

Bond’s three outs included a sac-fly to center field, which plated the Patriots’ seventh run, before a strikeout and a popup to first base in foul territory.

Luke Marlow, who left the game in the seventh inning after the string of errors, moved from shortstop to pitcher in the sixth inning and struck out the side. Evan Reinhard earned the win, allowing two runs — one earned — and two hits with one walk and three strikeouts across the first three innings.

At the plate, Brendan Upham had a game-high three hits with an RBI for Swanton (1-0). Drew Koder singled twice, Owen Hurst singled with two RBI, Brady O’Shea singled with an RBI and Drew LaPoint walked three times.

The Patriots’ rally attempt began with a Brayden Keaton bunt, where he reached on a third-base error.

Cal Schroeder and Grant Schwab followed with singles through the right side, with two runs scoring on Schwab’s swing, while Mason Jardine grounded to second base for a potential double-play, but Swanton muffed the ball and did not get an out.

After a mound visit, Jackson Meienburg knocked the ball to right field, where the fielder attempted to make a sliding catch but missed the ball, allowing a runner to score. Lane Biederstedt belted the infield fly ball, which was dropped to load the bases.

Meienburg paced PH (0-2) with three hits, including two doubles, and two RBI. Biederstedt and Schroeder had two hits apiece and Schwab tallied two RBI.

Henry Gibson suffered the loss, allowing four runs and six hits with four walks and one strikeout across 3 2/3 innings.