Bears Bats come alive for first conference victory

Two baseball players posing for picture with huge smiles on their face after winning ballgame
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April 24, 2026

Friday, April 24, 2026: Baseball 

Chalmette, LA 

The Baton Rouge Bears and the Nunez Pelicans faced off under the lights at Noel Suarez Stadium tonight, kicking off their four-game conference series. The Bears' bats came alive, outslugging the Pelicans en route to a 15-5 victory, secured after seven innings due to the run rule. 

The Bears struck first, scoring three runs in the opening inning to take an early lead. Kenneth Berard was hit by a pitch, and Brayden Bertucci followed with a single to left field. Peyton Chiasson then hit a double to center field, bringing Berard home for the Bears' first run. Cayden Vice contributed with a single up the middle, scoring both Bertucci and Chiasson. 

The Pelicans quickly responded, tying the game in the bottom of the first with three runs. L. Coley hit a two-run homer to left field, and C. Stelly followed with a solo homer to left. 

The Bears regained the lead with four runs in the top of the second, making it 7-3. Brecken Bordelon hit a double to center field and scored on a homer to right field by Kenneth Berard. Brayden Bertucci then hit a single and scored on a Trent Laporte homer to left field. 

The Pelicans managed to score a run in the bottom of the second, narrowing the gap to 7-4. 

The Bears erupted for seven runs in the top of the third inning, extending their lead to 14-4. Cayden Vice led off with a double to left field, followed by Hudson Heltz drawing a walk. Cooper Martin hit a three-run homer to center field. After Brecken Bordelon was hit by a pitch, Keegan Kelsey and Kenneth Berard both hit singles to load the bases. Brayden Bertucci's single to right field brought Bordelon home. Peyton Chiasson hit an infield single, scoring Kelsey, and Berard scored on a throwing error by the Pelicans. Vice batted again in the inning, hitting a single to center field that brought Bertucci home for the Bears' seventh run of the frame. 

The Pelicans replied with a run in the bottom of the third when C. Stelly hit a solo homer to right field, but they still trailed 14-5. 

Both teams' offenses cooled down over the next three innings as the opposing pitchers settled in on the mound. 

The Bears added another run in the top of the seventh inning, increasing their lead to 15-5. Kenneth Berard led off with a double, and Brayden Bertucci hit a single to put Bears at the corners. Trent Laporte hit into a double play, but Berard scored on the play. 

Cole Cranford came in to pitch in the bottom of the seventh and worked out of a mini-jam to secure the 15-5 victory for the Bears, marking their first conference win of the season. 

Tanner Cranford started on the mound for the Bears and earned the victory, pitching six innings while allowing five runs on six hits, walking four, and striking out six. Cole Cranford pitched one inning in relief. E. Fuselier started on the mound for the Pelicans and took the loss, pitching two innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits, while striking out three. M. Newfield, D. Turpeau, and J. Crane pitched in relief for the Pelicans. 

Baton Rouge out-hit Nunez 18 to 7, with both teams committing one error. 

Bears Highlights: 

With the win, the Bears improved to 5-43 and 1-16 in the conference, while the Pelicans fell to 21-20 and 6-11 on the season. The all-time series record is now tied at 25 wins each. 

Up Next: 

The Bears and the Pelicans will continue their conference series with a seven-inning doubleheader on Saturday, April 25. Games are set for 2 PM and 5 PM at Noel Suarez Stadium.  

Follow Us: 

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