Bears Baseball Swept by #5 Pearl River Wildcats

Friday, February 7, 2025: Baseball

Poplarville, MS

The Baton Rouge Bears traveled to Poplarville, Mississippi, this afternoon to play against #5 Pearl River in a doubleheader at Dub Herring Park on the campus of Pearl River Community College. The Wildcats swept the day, winning both games with scores of 5-0 and 3-2 over Baton Rouge.

Game One

The Bears received a solid pitching performance from starter Cole Cranford, but the team struggled offensively, losing 5-0. Neither team was able to score through the first three innings. Pearl River broke the deadlock in the fourth inning, scoring two runs. The Wildcats managed a single and a double before scoring their first run due to a fielding error by the Bears. They then loaded the bases after hitting a Bear with a pitch, and scored their second run on a sacrifice fly to center field. After four innings, Pearl River led 2-0.

The Wildcats extended their lead in the fifth inning with a two-run homer by C. Thompson, making the score 4-0. The Bears threatened in the seventh inning by loading the bases, but failed to score any runs.

Cole Cranford took the loss after pitching five innings, allowing five runs on four hits while striking out three. Briggs Ardoin (2.0 innings) and Jack Cowan (1.0 inning) provided relief for the Bears. Pearl River outhit Baton Rouge 8 to 6, and Baton Rouge committed one error in the game.

Bears Highlights:

Kenneth Berard went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles

Trent Laporte went 1 for 4

Jackson Martin went 1 for 3

Kaiden Broussard went 1 for 4

Aidan Machado went 1 for 3 with 1 walk

Game Two

Pearl River hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to secure a 3-2 victory over Baton Rouge. For the first five innings, neither team could solve the opposing pitchers, resulting in a scoreless game. The Bears finally got on the board in the sixth inning when Layne Swanson was hit by a pitch, followed by a walk issued to Jackson Martin. Kenneth Berard then hit a double to left field, scoring Swanson and Martin.

However, the Wildcats responded with a three-run homer from J. Keys in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. The Bears had opportunities in the seventh but were unable to score, resulting in the loss to the #5 Pearl River Wildcats.

Cade Robin started on the mound for the Bears. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Grayson Davis pitched one inning in relief and was credited with the loss, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one. J. Johnson started for the Wildcats and pitched six innings, allowing two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out eight. Pearl River outhit Baton Rouge 6 to 3, and the Bears committed two errors in the game.

Bears Highlights:

Jackson Martin went 1 run and 1 walk

Kenneth Berard went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs

Conner Kleinpeter went  1 for 3

Aidan Machado went for 3

Layne Swanson had 1 run

With this sweep, the Bears' record falls to 1-7, while Pearl River improves to 5-1 in the early season. Pearl River leads the all-time series against Baton Rouge with 42 wins to 7 losses.

The Bears will return home to play the Dallas College Brookhaven Bears on Saturday, February 8. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 PM at Pete Goldsby Field.