Thursday April 14, 2022: Baseball
Eunice, La
The Baton Rouge Bears and the #2 LSUE Bengals met this evening on the Cajun Prairie to start a four-game series. The comeback Bears would strike again as they would rally for nine runs, in the eighth inning, to take the lead, in which, they would not relinquish. The Bears defeat the Bengals 11-6 in the opening game of this four-game series.
The first three innings was a good ole fashion pitching duel between the Bears and the Bengals. The Bengals would break through and get on the board first with two runs, in the fourth inning, to take the 2-0 lead over the Bears. In the fifth inning, the Bengals would add to their lead via a Moody lead off solo homer to right field. They would add another run, in the fifth, to extend their lead to 4-0 over the Bears. The Bears would get on the board, in the sixth inning, when Elliot Hebert would hit a double and score on a Lane Hutchinson single. After six innings, the Bears trailed the Bengals 4-1. The Bears would load the bases, in the seventh inning, with back to back walks by Guilbeau and Frederick and a hit by pitch of Jacob Dunn. Braxton Gallet would hit into a fielder's choice scoring a Bears run. The Bengals would scratch across a run, in the bottom of the seventh, to extend their lead to 5-2.
The Bears would continue to fight as they would erupt for nine runs, in the eighth inning, to tie the game at five then take an 11-5 lead. The Bears would load the bases via a fielder's choice by Ethan Menard, and walks by Jonas LeBourgeois and Tristan Frederick. Nick Carriere would hit a sac fly to left field driving in Menard. Jacob Dunn would draw a walk to reload the bases then Braxton Gallet would be hit by a pitch driving in another Bears run. Elliot Hebert would single to right field scoring Frederick and Dunn to take the lead. Lane Hutchinson would follow with a single of his own driving in another Bears run. Blaise Foote, making his second plate appearance of the inning, would hit a double up the middle scoring Hebert and Hutchinson. The hits would keep coming as Ethan Menard would single to right field scoring Foote. Tristan Frederick would reach on a Bengals error, which would drive in Menard. In the eighth inning, the Bears would send 14 batters to the plate and score 9 runs on 6 hits.
The Bengals would score a run, in the eighth inning, but they still trailed the Bears 11-6. Caden Akana would come in for the Bears with the bases loaded and one out, in the ninth inning. Caden would get a strikeout and a ground out to himself, to end the Bengals threat and secure the 11-6 Bears victory.
Alex Norris started on the mound for the Bears. Alex pitched four and two-thirds innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 1. Luke Evans (1.2 innings), Drew Blanchard (.2 innings) Slade Zeppuhar (1.1 Innings) and Caden Akana ( .2 inning) would pitch in relief for the Bears. Drew Blanchard would earn the victory for the Bears and Caden Akana would pick up the save. C. Hart started on the mound for the Bengals. He pitched five and two-thirds innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 4. Brock Bartholemy took the loss for the Bengals. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits.
LSUE would outhit Baton Rouge 11 to 10. The Bengals would commit two errors in the ball game.
Bears Game Highlights
Braxton Gallet went 1 for 5 with 1 run and 2 RBIs
Elliot Hebert went 2 for 4 with 2 runs, 1 BB and 2 RBIs
Lane Hutchinson went 2 for 6 with 1 run and 2 RBIs
Ethan Menard went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI
Blaise Foote went 1 for 4 with 1 run and 2 RBIs
Tristan Frederick went 1 for 3 with 1 run and 2 BB
Jonas LeBourgeois went 1 for 1 with 1BB and 2 runs
Nick Carriere had 1 RBI
With the victory the Bears improve to 22-25, while the Bengals fall to 28-12 on the season.
The series will shift back to the Capital City tomorrow Friday April 15 for a doubleheader starting at 3 pm at Pete Goldsby Field.
For more information on the Bears Baseball team follow us on Twitter at (@BRCC_Baseball) and Instagram and Facebook at (BRCCAthletics)