Bears drop first two games in LCCAC series with the Nunez Pelicans

Saturday, April 26, 2025: Baseball

Chalmette, LA

The Baton Rouge Bears and the Nunez Pelicans faced off this afternoon at Noel Suarez Stadium, kicking off a three-game LCCAC series to conclude the regular season. In game one, the Bears struggled to contain the high-powered offense of the Pelicans, losing 14-3. However, the Bears rallied in game two to tie the matchup, but a grand slam by the Pelicans secured their victory with a final score of 10-7.

Game One 

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bears found it difficult to keep pace with the Pelicans' offense, ultimately falling 14-3 in a five-inning run rule. The Pelicans took an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to go up 2-0. Hudson Heltz led off the top of the second for the Bears with a solo home run to center field. Brayden Bertucci hit a double up the middle, but he was left stranded. The Bears trailed 2-1 after one and a half innings.

The Pelicans responded with four runs in the bottom of the second, increasing their lead to 6-1. They hit three home runs during the inning, including a solo shot to center field by J. Cabeceiras, as well as a solo homer by B. Louque. J. LaCava contributed with a double to left field, and C. Cure hit a two-run home run to center field. Nunez scored five runs in the third inning, with C. Cure hitting a three-run homer—his second of the game. By the end of three innings, Nunez led Baton Rouge 11-1.

The Pelicans added three more runs in the fourth inning, extending their lead to 14-1. The Bears didn't give up, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Jacob Covington led off with a double, Kenneth Berard followed with a single, and Dylan Cedotal drove in Covington with a double. Jackson Martin hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Berard home.

Despite the Bears' efforts, they fell to the Pelicans 14-3 in a five-inning game. Grant Porche started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing 8 runs (7 earned) on 8 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 1. Conner Mayeux (0.1 innings) and Joshua Jensen (1.0 innings) provided relief. E. Woodard pitched a complete five-inning game for the Pelicans, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and striking out 7.

Nunez outhit Baton Rouge 14 to 5, and the Bears were credited with 2 errors in the game.

Bears Highlights 

Jackson Martin had 1 RBI and 1 walk 

Hudson Heltz went 1 for 2 with 1 run, 1 RBI, and 1 home run 

Brayden Bertucci went 1 for 2 

Jacob Covington went 1 for 2 with 1 run 

Dylan Cedotal went 1 for 2 with 1 RBI 

Kenneth Berard went 2 for 3 with 1 run 

Game Two

The Bears made a late rally, but their comeback fell short as the Nunez Pelicans secured a 10-7 victory following a grand slam hit in the fifth inning.

The Pelicans struck first for the second consecutive game, scoring three runs through a solo homer and a two-run homer to establish a 3-0 lead. The Bears responded with two runs in the top of the second, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Cooper Martin  would draw a walk and Trent Laporte would hit a double to put runners on second and third. Kaiden Broussard would hit a double to score Martin and Laporte.

In the bottom of the second, the Pelicans manufactured another run with two walks and a few stolen bases, extending their lead to 4-2 over the Bears. The Bears crept closer with a lead-off homer to center field by Kenneth Berard, marking his first collegiate home run. Nunez's C. Cure responded with another home run to center, increasing their lead to 5-3 in the third inning. The Pelicans added another run with a double from M. Cody, concluding the third with a 6-3 lead.

The Bears tied the game at six in the top of the fourth inning, scoring three runs. Jacob Covington and Trent Laporte would hit  back-to-back doubles, and Kaiden Broussard contributed a two-run homer to right-center.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Pelicans loaded the bases with consecutive singles, and M. Cody hit a grand slam off the right-field scoreboard, retaking the lead at 10-6.

The Bears managed to score a run in the top of the sixth. Brayden Bertucci drew a walk, advanced to second after another walk issued to Kaiden Broussard, and scored on a single by Jackson Martin to left field. However, it wasn't enough, and the Bears fell in game two of the doubleheader, 10-7 to the Pelicans.

Jayse Degruy started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss, pitching 4.1 innings while allowing 8 runs on 8 hits, with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts. Cole Veronie pitched 1.2 innings in relief for the Bears. Luke Conerly started on the mound for the Pelicans, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing 6 runs on 8 hits, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.

Baton Rouge outhit Nunez 11 to 10, and neither team committed an error. 

Bears Highlights:

Jackson Martin went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI, 2 doubles, and 1 walk

Kenneth Berard went 2 for 3 with 1 run and 1 home run

Cooper Martin went 1 for 3 with 1 run, 1 double, and 1 walk

Jacob Covington went 1 for 3 with 1 run and 1 double

Trent Laporte went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 1 double

Brayden Bertucci had 1 run

Kaiden Broussard went 2 for 2 with 1 run, 1 walk, 4 RBIs, 1 double, and 1 home run

Aidan Machado went 1 for 1

With the losses, the Bears fell to 5-42 overall and 1-14 in conference play, while the Pelicans improved to 32-17 and 7-10 on the season. Despite the losses, Baton Rouge still leads the all-time series with 24 wins against Nunez's 20.

The Bears will conclude their regular season schedule with a single nine-inning game tomorrow, Sunday, April 27, at Noel Suarez Stadium in Chalmette, Louisiana. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.

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