Bears drop a pair of games to the Nunez Pelicans

Friday, April 4, 2025: Baseball

Baton Rouge, LA

The Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the Nunez Community College Pelicans this afternoon to kick off a three-game conference series at Pete Goldsby Field. The Bears struggled early in both games, unable to control the Pelicans' powerful offense. In the end, their late-inning rallies fell short, resulting in the Pelicans sweeping the Bears with final scores of 9-4 and 12-7.

Game One

The Bears couldn't overcome a slow start, losing the first game to the Pelicans 9-4.

The Pelicans got their bats going quickly in the first two innings, scoring three runs in the first inning and four more runs in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead. The Bears managed to score one run in the second inning when Jackson Martin led off with a double and later scored on a Shawn Driggers single up the middle. The Pelicans increased their lead with a two-run home run to right field by C. Shelly, making the score 9-1 midway through the third inning.

In the fourth inning, the Bears brought in reliever Jack Cowan, who held the Pelicans scoreless for the next four innings, giving the Bears a chance to rally. The Bears scored two runs in the fifth inning when Layne Swanson hit a bloop single, followed by Jacob Covington's two-run homer to left field. After five innings, the Bears trailed 9-3.

The Bears continued to fight and managed to score one run in the bottom of the seventh. In that inning, Jacob Covington singled to left field, advanced to second on a Jackson Martin single, and then scored on a Brayden Bertucci single. Pelicans' pitcher E. Woodward ended the Bears' rally by striking out Aidan Machado, securing the game for the Pelicans at 9-4.

Cole Cranford started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss, pitching two innings and allowing 7 runs on 7 hits, while walking 2 batters and striking out 1. Tanner Cranford pitched 1 inning and Jack Cowan pitched 4 innings in relief for the Bears. E. Woodward pitched a complete game for the Pelicans, going 7 innings and allowing 4 runs on 11 hits while striking out 9.

The Pelicans outhit the Bears 15 to 11, and both teams were credited with one error.

Bears Highlights 

Layne Swanson went 1 for 4 with 1 run 

Jacob Covington went 2 for 4 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 1 homer 

Dillion Bird went 1 for 4 

Jackson Martin went 3 for 4 with 1 run 

Brayden Bertucci went 2 for 4 

Shawn Driggers went 1 for 3 

Conner Kleinpeter went 1 for 3 

Game Two

In a fashion similar to game one, the Bears struggled to control the high-powered offense of the Pelicans early on. Their late-inning rally fell short, and the Pelicans defeated the Bears 12-7 in the second game of today's doubleheader.

The Pelicans struck first for the second consecutive game, scoring a run in the first inning to take an early lead. The Bears attempted to get things rolling when Kenneth Berard and Aidan Machado each hit singles to left field, but both were stranded on second and third base, in the bottom of the second inning. The Pelicans then had a big third inning, scoring five runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. This included two runs from a double by B. Gaubert and three runs from a three-run homer hit by M. Cody to left field. The Bears finally got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Jacob Covington drew a walk and later scored on a single from Hudson Heltz. After three innings, the Bears trailed the Pelicans 6-1.

Nunez extended their lead in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases three times and scoring six runs to take a commanding 12-1 advantage over the Bears.

However, similar to game one, the Bears refused to go down without a fight. In the bottom of the sixth inning, they loaded the bases thanks to a walk by Brayden Bertucci, a single by Aidan Machado, and a walk drawn by pinch hitter Dylan Cedotal. Jake Brouillette also drew a walk, driving in Bertucci and causing Pelican's pitcher K. Broussard to exit the game. Layne Swanson walked off Pelican's reliever L. Pittman to bring Machado home. Cedotal scored on a wild pitch, and Jacob Covington reached on an error. Kenneth Berard then hit a double into the right-center field gap, clearing the bases and scoring three more runs. The Bears managed to score six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but they still trailed the Pelicans 12-7.

The Bears' rally came up short as the Pelicans secured the victory with two flyouts and a strikeout to end the game.

Jayse Degruy started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss. He pitched 3.0 innings and allowing six runs on five hits, walking two, and striking out four. Cole Veronie (2.1 innings) and Grayson Davis (1.2 innings) provided relief for the Bears. L. Conerly started on the mound for the Pelicans and earned the victory, pitching five innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking five, and striking out seven.

Nunez outhit Baton Rouge 10 to 5, and the Bears committed two errors compared to one for the Pelicans.

Bears Highlights:

Layne Swanson had 1 run, and 1 walk

Jackson Martin went 1 for 4

Jacob Covington had 1 walk, and 2 runs

Hudson Heltz went 1 for 3, with 1 run, and 1 walk

Kenneth Berard went 1 for 2, with 3 RBIs, and 2 walks

Aidan Machado went 2 for 4, with 1 run

Jake Brouillette had 1 run, and 2 walks

Dylan Cedotal had 1 run, and 1 walk

With these two losses, the Bears' record fell to 4-30 overall and 0-5 in conference play, while the Pelicans improved to 26-13 and 2-6. Baton Rouge still holds the all-time series record with 24 wins and 17 losses against Nunez.

The Bears and the Pelicans will conclude their series tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, at 1 PM at Pete Goldsby Field.

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