Baton Rouge splits the day with Southwest Mississippi

Wednesday February 7, 2024

Summit, MS : Softball

The Baton Rouge Bears traveled to Summit, Mississippi, this afternoon, to face off against the Southwest Mississippi Lady Bears at Lady Bear Park. This will be the 30th and 31st meeting on the Diamond between the two Bears ball clubs. Southwest would edge out Baton Rouge with the 1-0 extra inning victory in game one. Baton Rouge would get their bats going, in game two, as they take the 11 to 4 victory.

Game One

The Battle of the Bears lived up to the hype. Game one would be tied at zero at the end of regulation forcing extra innings. Southwest Mississippi Lady Bears would walk off with the 1-0 victory over Baton Rouge.

Both teams would have their chances to score but each team was missing the illusive timely hit to score a run.  It was a pitching duel between Baton Rouge's  Maddie Robinson and Southwest's  L. Mounce. Both pitchers pitched a complete game. M. Robinson had 6 strikeouts while Mounce had 7 strikeouts. 

After seven innings the game would be tied at zero forcing extra innings. In the top of the eighth inning, Baton Rouge would would have Essynce Wallace placed at second, she would be moved over to third  via a sac bunt by Maddie Robinson. The Bears would hit two consecutive pop fly to strand Wallace at third. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Southwest would have a runner placed on second as well. Baton Rouge would get two quick outs via a strike out bunt attempt and a ground out to second base. P. Debase would single to centerfield driving in a run for Southwest and walking off with the game one victory.

Maddie Robinson started in the circle for Baton Rouge and took the loss. M. Robinson pitched 7.2 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits while walking 22 and striking out 6. L. Mounce started in the circle for Southwest and earned the victory. Mounce pitched 8 innings allowing 0 runs on 1 hits while walking one and striking out 7.

Southwest out hit Baton Rouge 6 to 1. Southwest committed 2 errors in the ballgame.

Bears Game One Highlights 

Eve Fruge' went 1 for 3

Maddie Robinson threw 7.2 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits with 6 strikeouts 

Game Two

Baton Rouge would score early and often enroute to the 11-4 game two victory over Southwest. 

In the first inning, Baton Rouge would score two runs to take the 2-0 lead. Desi Robinson would draw a walk, steal second and score on a Molly Sistrunk double to centerfield for the Bears first run of the ballgame. Keesley Ross would single to left field driving in Sistrunk for the Bears' second run.

Baton Rouge would strike again, in the third inning, with 4 runs. Desi Robinson would lead off with a single up the middle. Molly Sistrunk would hit a sacrifice bunt moving Robinson to second.  Robinson would steal third and score on a Kylee Dulyea infield single. Keesley Ross would single up the middle and advance to second on a throwing error by Southwest. Ashlyn Hebert would single to left field driving in Dulyea and Ross. Ashlyn would then steal second and score on an Eve Fruge hit to right field for the Bears' fourth run of the frame.

Southwest would get on the board via a lead off homer to left field by A. Leggett. After three innings Baton Rouge held a 6-1 lead.

Baton Rouge would stay hot at the plate as they would tact on two more runs to their lead 8-1, in the fourth inning. Hannah Abshire would lead off with an infield single and advance to second on a throwing error by Southwest. Desi Robinson would follow with a double to left field scoring Abshire. Molly Sistrunk would draw a walk then steal second . Lain Wainwright would pinch hit for Kylee Dulyea and she would ground out to Southwest's shortstop but would drive in Robinson.

Baton Rouge would add three more runs to their lead in the fifth inning. After five innings, the Bears led 11-1. Eve Fruge' and Aubrie Shaw would draw back to back walks. Desi Robinson would hit her second double of the game driving in Fruge' and Shaw. Molly Sistrunk would follow with her second double of the game scoring D. Robinson.

Southwest would not go down without fighting as they would score 3 runs, in the fifth inning, but still trailed Baton Rouge 11-4.

Both teams would be held scoreless in the sixth and seventh inning thus Baton Rouge would win game two 11 to 4.

Baton Rouge outhit Southwest 12 to 8. Baton Rouge committed four errors compared to two for Southwest in the ballgame.

Bailey Smith started in the circle for Baton Rouge and earned the victory. Smith pitched 4 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits. Olivia Burns (1.0 innings) and Jennifer Fontenot (2 innings) pitched in relief for Baton Rouge. K. Daze started in the circle for Southwest. She pitched 2.2 innings allowing 6 runs on 8 hits while walking one. K. Daze took the loss for Southwest.

Bears Game Two Highlights:

Desi Robinson went 3 for 3 with 4 runs, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 1 BB

Molly Sistrunk went 2 for 3 with 1 run, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and 1 BB

Kylee Dulyea went 1 for 2 with 1 run and 1 RBI

Keesley Ross went 2 for 3 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 1BB

Hannah Abshire went 1 for 3 with 1 run

Ashyln Hebert went 1 for 4 with 1 run and 2 RBIs

Eve Fruge' went 2 for 2 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 1 BB

With the split Baton Rouge improved to 4-4 while Southwest improved to 3-2 on the season. Southwest still hold the overall series advantage with 18 wins and 14 losses over Baton Rouge.

The Bears will play host to Hinds Community College this Friday February 9, 2024. The doubleheader starts at 1 pm at Hartley-Vey Sports Complex (Oak Villa). 

For more information about the Lady Bears Softball team follow us on twitter at (@brcc_softball) or Facebook and Instagram at (BRCCAthletics).