Bears sweep the John Melvin Millers

Monday March 24, 2025: Softball 

Crowley, LA 

The Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the John Melvin University Millers in a doubleheader this afternoon at the Tony Robichaux Sports Complex. The Bears would sweep the Millers by the final scores of 4-0 and 15-7, in six innings. 

Game One 

The game turned into a pitcher's duel for much of the afternoon until the Bears broke through offensively, ultimately defeating the Millers 4-0. 

The Bears got on the scoreboard first, taking the lead with a run in the first inning. Maddie Robinson walked and scored when Jardyn Wheeler reached base due to a fielding error by the Millers. Although the Millers managed to get runners on the corners, Bears' pitcher Abbey Borel effectively shut them down with a flyout and a strikeout, ending the inning without allowing a run. 

In the seventh inning, the Bears came alive, scoring three more runs to secure their 4-0 victory. Bailey Romero started the inning by drawing a walk, followed by Ashlyn Hebert, who bunted and reached base on another error. Romero managed to steal third. Lindsey Hudson then bunted and also reached safely due to a fielding error, bringing both Romero and Hebert home on a chaotic play. Kennedy Kelly hit a triple up the middle, but Hudson slipped and was caught in a rundown, ultimately being called out at home. Kelly did manage to score on a single from Maddie Robinson, marking the Bears' third run of the game. 

Abbey Borel earned the complete game victory for the Bears, pitching seven innings and allowing 0 runs on 4 hits, while walking 2 batters and striking out 6. J Aube, the pitcher for the Millers, took the loss, pitching 7 innings and allowing 4 runs (none earned) on 4 hits, with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. 

Both teams ended the game with four hits, but the Millers were charged with three errors, compared to one for the Bears. 

Bears Highlights: 

Maddie Robinson went 1 for 3 with 1 run, 1 RBI, and 1 walk  

Mary Wicke went 1 for 3  

Bailey Romero had 1 run and 1 walk  

Ashlyn Hebert had 1 run  

Lindsey Hudson went 1 for 2 with 1 RBI  

Kennedy Kelly went 1 for 3 with 1 run 

Game Two 

The Bears found their rhythm at the plate in game two of today's doubleheader, as they pounded out 20 hits en route to a 15-7 victory over the John Melvin Millers, achieving a run rule win in the sixth inning. 

The Bears struck first, scoring two runs. Kyla Ashford hit a single, and Mary Wicke followed with a double to right field, putting runners on second and third. Jardyn Wheeler then singled to centerfield, bringing Ashford home. Baylie Romero grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed Wicke to score. Ashlyn Hebert reached base on a Millers fielding error, placing Bears at the corners with two outs. However, the Millers induced a fly out by Rylee Guthrie to end the Bears' rally and the inning. 

The Bears added five runs in the second inning to extend their lead to 7-0. Eve Fruge' drew a walk, Kennedy Kelly reached on a fielder's choice, and Maddie Robinson got on base with a single. Kyla Ashford hit a double up the middle, scoring both Kelly and Robinson. Mary Wicke connected for a single to right field, and Baylie Romero hit a double, bringing Ashford and Wicke home. Ashlyn Hebert replaced Romero on second with her own double, which scored Romero. 

The Millers responded with three runs in the bottom of the second, but they still trailed the Bears 7-3. 

The Bears continued their offensive surge as Eve Fruge' led off the third inning with a single, and Maddie Robinson contributed a two-run homer to left field, increasing their lead. 

Ashton Duhon opened the fourth inning with a pinch-hit homer to left field—her first collegiate home run. Baylie Romero hit a single into the gap, and Ashlyn Hebert and Averie Ashford followed suit with singles, loading the bases for the Bears. Romero and Hebert attempted a double steal, but Romero was called out at the plate. Eve Fruge' then hit a fly ball to right field, scoring Hebert. Kennedy Kelly followed with a single to right, bringing Ashford home, and Maddie Robinson hit a ball into the gap to drive in Kelly. The Bears scored four runs in the inning, extending their lead to 13-3. 

The Millers responded with four runs of their own, narrowing the score to 13-7. The Bears added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Eve Fruge' reached base on a fielder's choice and scored on a lineout from Maddie Robinson. Kennedy Kelly reached on an error and scored on an infield single from Kyla Ashford. 

Briley LeBeouf closed the sixth inning with two strikeouts and a groundout, leading the Bears to a 15-7 run rule victory over the Millers. 

Jennifer Fontenot started in the circle for the Bears, pitching two innings and allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. Devyn Latalotis and Briley LeBeouf each pitched two innings in relief. LeBeouf earned the win for the Bears. L. Cathey started for the Millers and took the loss, pitching six innings, allowing 15 runs (13 earned) on 20 hits while walking three. 

Baton Rouge outhit John Melvin 20 to 8, with both teams recording two errors. 

Bears Highlights 

Maddie Robinson went 3 for 5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs, 1 home run 

Kyla Ashford went 3 for 4, 3 RBIs 

Mary Wicke went 4 for 5, 2 runs 

Jardyn Wheeler went 1 for 2, 1 RBI 

Ashton Duhon went 1 for 2, with 1 run, 1 RBI, and 1 home run 

Ashlyn Hebert went 2 for 4, with 1 run, and 1 RBI 

Baylie Romero went 2 for 4, with 1 run, and 3 RBIs 

Averie Ashford went 1 for 1 with 1 run, and 1 walk 

Eve Fruge' went 2 for 3, with 2 runs, 1 RBI, and 1 walk 

Kennedy Kelly went 1 for 4, with 3 runs, and 1 RBI 

With today's wins, the Bears improved to 18-10 while the Millers fell to 9-20. BRCC leads the all-time series with 8 wins and 0 losses over John Melvin. 

Abbey Borel secured her first collegiate victory with the first win today, while Ashton Duhon hit her first collegiate home run as a pinch hitter in the second game. 

The Bears will travel up I-49 this Wednesday, March 26, to take on the Bossier Parish Community College Cavs at the BPCC Softball Facility, with the doubleheader starting at 2 PM.