Bears split with Southwest Mississipi to pick up first win of season

Wednesday February 14, 2024

Baton Rouge, La

The Baton Rouge Bears and the Southwest Mississippi Bears met, for the second time, on the Diamond this season. Baton Rouge would trying to avenge an earlier loss to Southwest Mississippi,  in Hammond, LA on February 6. Baton Rouge would break through and win game one 8-1. Southwest would rebound to take the nightcap 8-4.

Game One

Baton Rouge would pick up their first win of the 2024 season, in game one, of today doubleheader against the Southwest Mississippi Bears. The Baton Rouge Bears would use a great pitching performance by Reid Godchaux and clutch hitting from a few guys to defeat Southwest Mississippi 8-1.

Baton Rouge would get on the board first with two runs, in the second inning, to take the early 2-0 advantage. Dillion Bird would lead off the inning with a single to left field. Brady Neyland would be next and he would reach on a Southwest's error. Bird would advance to third on same error. Matthew Reinholtz would single to right field scoring Bird. Lane Patin would hit a sac bunt scoring Neyland from third for the Bears second run of the game. 

Baton Rouge would strike again, in the third inning, with three runs to increase their lead over Southwest to 5-0. Tanner Hornback would lead off with a single and score on a Jackson Martin triple to right field. Martin would score on a Ryan Richard double to centerfield. Richard would advance to third on a Southwest's error and he would score on a balk by P.Perdue, the Southwest pitcher.

In the fourth inning, Baton Rouge would scratch across two more runs. Matthew Reinholtz would lead off with an infield single. Lane Patin would then get hit by a pitch . John Touchet would be next and he would double to right field scoring Reinholtz and Patin. After four inning, Baton Rouge led Southwest 7-0.

Southwest would finally get on the board, in the top of the fifth inning, with their lone run of the ballgame. Baton Rouge would tact on an insurance run, in the bottom of the fifth inning, to increase their lead to 8-1. Brady Neyland would lead off with a walk. Seth Fontenot would each on an error and Neyland would score on same play and error.

Colin McDonald would come in to pitch for Baton Rouge, in the sixth inning, and he would pitch two scoreless inning to preserve the 8-1 Bears victory.

Reid Godchaux started on the mound for the Bears and earned the victory. Reid pitched 4 innings allowing 0 runs on 1 hit while walking 3 and striking out 1. Caden Durand (1.0 inning), and Colin McDonald (2 innings) pitched in relief for the Bears. N. Russ started on the mound for Southwest and took the loss. He pitched 2.1 innings allowing 5 runs(2 earned) on 5 hits while striking out 2.

Baton Rouge outhit Southwest Mississippi 8 to 6. Southwest committed 4 errors in the ballgame.

Game One Bears Highlights:

John Touchet went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs

Tanner Hornback went 1 for 2 with 1 BB and 1 run

Jackson Martin went 1 for 3 with 1 run and 1 RBI

Ryan Richard went 1 for 4 with 1 run and 1 RBI

Dillion Bird went 1 for 4 with 1 run

Brady Neyland had 2 runs

Matthew Reinholtz went 2 for 3 with 1 run and 1 RBI

Lane Patin went 1 for 1 with 1 run and 1 RBIs

Game Two

Southwest Mississippi would win game two 8 to 4 over Baton Rouge.

Southwest would get on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning.

Baton Rouge would take the lead, in the second inning, with two runs. Collin Dupre would lead off with a single o left field. Dillion Bird would follow with a double to left field. Brady Neyland would ground out but Dupre would score on the play.  Braden Corkern would draw a walk putting runners at the corners. Baton Rouge would execute a double steal with Bird stealing home and Corkern stealing second to drive in another run. After two inning, Baton Rouge held a 2-1 advantage over Southwest.

Baton Rouge would tact on a run to their lead, in the fourth inning, when Dillion Bird would lead off with a solo homer to left field. (his first collegiate homer run). After four innings, Baton Rouge led Southwest 3-1.

Southwest would inch closer with a run, in the fifth inning ;3-2. Baton would respond with a run, in the bottom of the fifth, to take a 4-2 lead. Tanner Hornback would draw a walk to lead off the inning. Hornback would steal second and advance to third on a Jackson Martin ground out to second. Hornback would score on a fielding error b6 the Southwest catcher. 

In the top of t sixth inning, Southwest would take advantage of some inconsistent pitching by Baton Rouge to inch closer;4-3.

Southwest would take the lead, in the seventh inning, when they would score four runs; 7-4. Southwest would add an insurance run, in the eighth inning,  to seal the 8-4 game two victory.

Tanner Cranford started on the mound Baton Rouge. Cranford pitched 4.1 innings allowing 1 run on 0 hits while walking 6 and striking out 4. Jack Cowan ( 1.2 innings), Cade Robin (.2 inning), Jacob Adams ( .1 inning) and Jackson a Martin (2.0 innings) pitched in relief for the Bears. Cade Robin would be credited with the loss for Baton Rouge. Dawson Richard started on the mound for Southwest.

Both teams had 5 hits in the ball game. Southwest committed 2 errors compared to 1 for Baton Rouge.

Game Two Bears Highlights:

Dillion Bird went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, 1 BB, 1 RBI and 1 home run

Collin Dupre went 1 for 3 with 1 run

Brady Neyland had 1 RBI

Jackson Martin went 1 for 3 

John Touchet went 1 for 4

With the split Baton Rouge improved to 1-11, while Southwest Mississippi improved to 4-4 on the season.  Baton Rouge still leads the overall series record with 26 wins and 16 losses over Southwest Mississippi.

The Bears will face Tyler Junior College Apaches on Friday February 16 at 6 pm at Pete Goldsby Field.

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