HOUSTON — If Kirby Bellow is Nederland's current favorite Bulldog, Nick Cardenas is easily Nederland's second favorite. The junior center fielder may very well be Bellow's favorite, as Cardenas doubled in two runs to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth.

    An inning later, the Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead, one they would not lose. Then in the seventh Cardenas drove in Jordan Pitts for the decisive fourth run. The Dogs added two more on two errors in that final inning but Friendswood made things a little interesting in the bottom half.

    In their half, the Mustangs picked up one run on three hits, putting pressure on Bellow (10-0 with win) and the Bulldogs.

    But that was as close as Friendswood (25-8) would get. Nederland (23-7) held on for the 6-3, Game 1 victory, and will have the chance to finish off the best-of-three regional semifinals round with a win today in Game 2.

   "We never quit. We got a gutsy performance from Kirby. Got some big hits from Cardenas and Sonnier. It was just a great team win for us. It was really a great game for both sides," said Nederland coach Cody Robbins. "We have to come out and perform tomorrow. Nobody is going to lay down. Friendswood is a good team and we know they are hungry. We have to stay focused and keep playing good defense, keep hitting and pitching well."

    While Cardenas was the RBI guy, Bellow's efforts on the mound were just as important. The junior lefty punched out 13 batters and allowed just one walk. Bellow struck out the side three times on the night. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs, the most he has allowed in the postseason.

    The first run came in the second inning. Then the Mustangs took a 2-0 lead on a homer by Austin Fitzpatrick, whose spot in the order served as the first run as well.

     Friendswood's Kevin Thorton finished off the scoring in the seventh after he reached on a single to center and was then brought around from first on a single by Jordan Johnson.

     Thorton was the second hit of the inning, as it followed a lead-off single by Forrestt Allday, 2-for-3 with the second-inning RBI. But Allday was thrown out at third on a pitch and catch from left fielder Jude Vidrine, who slung a one-hopper to Trevin Sonnier. Sonnier scooped and tagged for the first and crucial out.

     After Johnson's RBI single, Bellow picked up back-to-back outs to end the game, enducing a fly out to center and a 3-1 putout at first.

     Nederland ended the game with 11 hits. Through the first four innings, the Dogs applied a great deal of pressure on losing pitcher and Friendswood ace Kyle Burris, who did not allow a run until the fifth.

     In that inning, Cardenas roped a two-out 2-2 pitch down the left field line that scored Tyler Smith, who singled to start the inning, from third and Jacob Williamson (running for Bellow who singled) from first.

    That knotted the game at 2-2 and swung the momentum to Nederland's side.

     The very next inning, Nederland struck again, as Vidrine drew a one-out walk and then scored from first on a double by Sonnier, which put the Dogs up 3-2.

     Vidrine was 2-for-3 with Nederland's third run. He reached base on all four of his plate appearances. Sonnier was also 2-for-3 while Cardenas was 2-for-4.