Bears sweep #15 Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs

Wednesday, March 5, 2024: Softball

Baton Rouge, LA

The Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the #15 ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs for a doubleheader this afternoon. The Bears showcased dominant pitching and timely hitting to sweep the Bulldogs with final scores of 6-1 and 4-3.

Game One 

A stellar pitching performance by Maddie Robinson, along with some key hits, led the Bears to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Bulldogs.

The Bears struck first, scoring a run in the third inning. Kennedy Kelly reached base on a Bulldog fielding error, and Lindsey Hudson advanced her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Maddie Robinson then hit a single up the middle to bring Kelly home for the Bears' first run of the game.

In the fifth inning, the Bears erupted with four additional runs, extending their lead to 5-1. Kennedy Kelly led off the inning with an infield single, followed by another sacrifice bunt from Lindsey Hudson that moved Kelly to second. Maddie Robinson contributed with another single, placing Bears on the corners. Mary Wicke reached on a successful bunt, scoring Kelly. Baylie Romero then hit a double to left field, driving in both Robinson and Wicke. Ashlyn Hebert capped off the inning with a fly ball single to right field, bringing Romero home for the Bears' fourth run of the inning. The Bears added an insurance run in the sixth when Kennedy Kelly hit a triple and scored on a ground out by Jardyn Wheeler. After six innings, the Bears led the Bulldogs 6-0.

The Bulldogs managed to score a run in the top of the seventh, but it would not be enough, and they fell to the Bears, 6-1.

Maddie Robinson earned the victory for the Bears, pitching six innings while allowing one run on five hits, walking one, and striking out ten. Briley Lebeouf pitched one inning in relief, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out one. K. Rouse, the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs, took the loss, pitching six innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on ten hits and walking two.

The Bears outhit the Bulldogs 10 to 5, and Mississippi Gulf Coast committed two errors  in the game.

Bears Highlights 

Lindsey Hudson had two crucial sacrifices. 

Jardyn Wheeler went 1 for 3. 

Maddie Robinson went 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI. 

Mary Wicke went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI. 

Baylie Romero went 1 for 3 with one run and two RBIs. 

Ashlyn Hebert went 2 for 2 with one RBI and one walk. 

Rylee Guthrie went 1 for 3. 

Kennedy Kelly went 2 for 3 with three runs. 

Game Two

With the game tied at three, the Bears drove home the winning run in the fifth inning, and Maddie Robinson pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save. 

Mississippi Gulf Coast got on the board first, scoring in the first inning. A. Tate hit a single and later scored on a triple by D. Thompson to right field. The Bears quickly responded, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame. Lindsey Hudson led off with a walk and scored on a double by Maddie Robinson. Robinson then scored on a single by Mary Wicke.

The Bears extended their lead to 3-1 in the third inning. Rylee Guthrie led off with a single to left field, advanced to second on a sacrifice from Eve Fruge', and then moved to third on another single by Lindsey Hudson. Guthrie scored on a double steal with Hudson.

The Bulldogs tied the game at three with two runs in the fourth inning.

The Bears regained the lead in the fifth inning. Mary Wicke led off with a single to left field, and Baylie Romero laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Wicke to second. Kyla Ashford hit an infield single, but Wicke did not advance. Ashlyn Hebert hit a fly ball to right field, allowing Wicke to tag up and reach third. Rylee Guthrie then hit a pop-up that the Bulldogs misplayed, allowing Wicke to score. After five innings, the Bears held a 4-3 lead. Maddie Robinson came in to pitch for the Bears, shutting down any Bulldog rally to secure the 4-3 victory.

Devyn Latiolais started in the circle for the Bears, earning the win. She pitched five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking one. Maddie Robinson earned the save, pitching two scoreless innings, striking out two and walking one. O. Falcon started for the Bulldogs and took the loss, pitching five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking one.

The Bears outhit the Bulldogs 10-8, and the Bears recorded one error in the game.

Bears Highlights

Lindsey Hudson went 1 for 2 with one run, one walk, and one sacrifice. 

Maddie Robinson went 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI. 

Mary Wicke went 3 for 4 with one run and one RBI. 

Kyla Ashford went 2 for 3. 

Rylee Guthrie went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI. 

With the sweep, the Bears improved their record to 13-9, while the Bulldogs fell to 17-6. Despite the losses, the Bulldogs still hold the all-time series record with 17 wins to 6 losses against the Bears.

The Bears will travel to Lufkin, Texas this Saturday March 8, 2025 to take on the Angelina College Roadrunners in a pair of games starting at 2 pm.

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