Bears drop conference opener to #2 LSUE Bengals

Saturday, March 22, 2025: Baseball

Eunice, LA

The Baton Rouge Bears faced the #2 ranked LSUE Bengals this afternoon, marking their 89th and 90th meetings, but for the first time as conference opponents. Unfortunately for the Bears, they dropped both games, losing 12-0 and 11-6.

Game One

The Bengals exploded offensively in the first three innings, leading to a 12-0 run-rule victory over the Bears. They got on the board early, batting around in the first inning and scoring seven runs, including a two-run homer by Riley. In the second inning, although the Bengals loaded the bases, Bear's pitcher Cole Veroine managed to limit the damage to just two additional runs. After two innings, the Bengals led the Bears 9-0.

In the third inning, the Bengals added three more runs with a three-run homer by Leblanc, extending their lead to 12-0. Jack Cowan pitched a scoreless fourth inning for the Bears, but the Bears struggled at the plate, unable to mount any pressure on the Bengals.

Cole Cranford started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss, pitching one inning and allowing seven runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two. Cole Veroine (2.0 innings) and Jack Cowan (1.0 inning) provided relief. Alec Beversdorf started for the Bengals and earned a complete game victory, pitching five innings and allowing no runs on two hits, while walking none and striking out eight.

Overall, LSUE outhit Baton Rouge 11 to 2, and the Bears committed one error in the game.

Bears Highlights:

Shawn Driggers went 1 for 2 

Jackson Martin went 1 for 2 

Game Two

The Bears returned with more passion and energy in the second game of today's doubleheader against the LSUE Bengals but ultimately fell short, losing 11-6. The Bears jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning. Jacob Covington and Shawn Driggers opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Dillion Bird laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position, and Jackson Martin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Aidan Machado then hit a single to left field, driving in Covington and Driggers for the Bears' first two runs. Kenneth Berard followed up with a double to right field, scoring Martin. Hudson Heltz walked, and Conner Kleinpeter capped the inning with a double to left field, bringing in Machado and Berard for the Bears' fourth and fifth runs.

However, the Bears' lead was short-lived, as the Bengals responded by scoring five runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game at five. The Bears added another run in the second inning to regain a 6-5 lead when Jackson Martin was hit by a pitch again and scored on Kenneth Berard's second double of the game. The Bengals tied it at six once more in the bottom of the frame.

In the third inning, the Bengals took control with a three-run homer by C. Riley, putting them ahead 9-6. They added two more runs in the fifth inning, resulting in an 11-6 lead. The Bears struggled to make adjustments at the plate against the Bengals' left-hand pitcher, resulting in their loss in game two.

Jayse Degruy started for the Bears, pitching one inning and allowing five runs on two hits while walking three and striking out two. Tanner Cranford pitched two innings in relief and took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits, walking one, and striking out two. Briggs Ardoin (2.0 innings) and Conner Mayeaux (1.0 inning) also pitched in relief. X Woods pitched five innings in relief for the Bengals, earning the victory by allowing no runs on three hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. M. Jacobs started for the Bengals, pitching 0.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, with two walks and one strikeout.

The Bears outhit the Bengals 9 to 7, and neither team committed an error.

Bears Highlights:

 Jacob Covington went 1 for 3, with a 1 run 

Shawn Driggers went 1 for 4, with a 1 run 

Dillion Bird went 1 for 2 with sac bunt

Jackson Martin went 1 for 2, with 2 runs 

Aidan Machado went 2 for 4, with 1 run, and 2 RBIs 

Kenneth Berard went 2 for 3, with 1 run, 2 RBIs, and 1 walk 

Conner Kleinpeter went 1 for 3, with 2 RBIs 

The Bears fell to 4-26 overall, and 0-2 in conference play, while the Bengals improved to 29-1, and 2-0. LSUE now leads the all-time series against Baton Rouge with 75 wins to 15 losses.

LCCAC Standings (as of 3/22/25)

LSUE: 2-0 

Delgado: 2-0 

Baton Rouge: 0-2 

Nunez: 0-2 

The Bears and the Bengals will conclude their three-game series tomorrow, Sunday, March 23, 2025, with a single nine-inning game scheduled for 1 PM 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).