Bears lose a heartbreaker at Hinds

Friday, March 14, 2025: Baseball

Raymond, MS

This afternoon, the Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the Hinds Community College Eagles at Joe G. Moss Field in a single nine-inning game. Both teams had their moments of success at the plate, but the Eagles ultimately secured a 12-10 victory with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.

The Bears jumped to a quick 4-0 lead in the second inning. Shawn Driggers started the inning with a single to left field, followed by back-to-back walks drawn by Aidan Machado and Conner Kleinpeter to load the bases. Trent Laporte reached on an error by the Eagles' shortstop, allowing Driggers and Machado to score the Bears' first runs. Layne Swanson walked to reload the bases, and Jackson Martin then hit a single up the middle, bringing in Kleinpeter and Laporte for the third and fourth runs of the inning.

In the fourth inning, the Bears added two more runs to extend their lead to 6-0. Kenneth Berard began the rally with a single to right field. After Trent Laporte drew a walk and they both advanced on a groundout by Layne Swanson, Jackson Martin hit another single to right field, scoring Berard. Dillion Bird then followed with a single to center, driving in Laporte.

The Eagles responded in the third inning, scoring three runs to close the gap to 6-3.

The Bears maintained their offensive momentum in the fifth inning, scoring three additional runs to increase their lead to 9-3. Cooper Martin and Aidan Machado drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Kenneth Berard then walked again after Kleinpeter struck out, loading the bases. Trent Laporte hit a single up the middle, bringing in Martin and Machado. An error by the Eagles allowed Layne Swanson to reach base, keeping the bases loaded. Jackson Martin then hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Berard to score.

However, the Eagles had a breakout inning of their own in the fifth, scoring six runs on six hits to tie the game at 9-9.

The Bears managed to scrape together a run in the sixth inning, regaining the lead at 10-9. Shawn Driggers led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Cooper Martin single to center field. Conner Kleinpeter hit a deep ball to center for an out, but Driggers tagged up and scored.

The Eagles tied the game again in the bottom of the eighth.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles started with an infield single from the leadoff batter. After a groundout and a strikeout, the Eagles hit a two-run homer to left field, sealing a walk-off victory at 12-10.

Cade Robin started on the mound for the Bears, pitching four innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits, with three strikeouts and walks. Klayton Wingfield (2.0 innings), Jack Cowan (2.0 innings), and Conner Mayeux (0.2 innings) provided relief, with Conner Mayeux taking the loss. K. Landers started for the Eagles, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing six runs (two earned) on five hits, walking four and striking out two.

The Eagles out-hit the Bears 15 to 10, and the Bears committed one error during the game.

Bears Highlights:

Layne Swanson went 1 for 5 with 1 walk 

Jackson Martin went 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs 

Dillion Bird went 1 for 5 

Shawn Driggers went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 1 walk 

Cooper Martin went 1 for 4 with 1 run and 1 walk 

Aidan Machado had 2 runs and 3 walks 

Conner Kleinpeter had 1 run, 1 hit, and 1 walk 

Kenneth Berard went 1 for 2 with 2 runs and 1 walk 

Trent Laporte went 2 for 4 with 2 runs, 4 RBIs, and 1 walk 

With this loss, the Bears fell to 4-24, while the Eagles improved to 6-16 on the season. The Eagles now lead the all-time series against the Bears with 20 wins to 15 losses. 

The Bears will begin LCCAC play next weekend at LSUE, starting a three-game series against the Bengals on Saturday, March 22, at Bengal Stadium. 

For more information on the Bears baseball team, follow us on Twitter at (@BRCC_Baseball) and on Instagram and Facebook at (BRCCAthletics).