Bears fall in series opener to Wharton County Junior College

A baseball player in black jersey prepares to catch a ball with his glove extended to field ball
February 6, 2021

Saturday February 6, 2021

Wharton, TX     

 

The Baton Rouge Bears clawed their way back into the game but watch their lead and the victory disappear with an eighth inning homer by  Wharton County Junior College Pioneers.  Wharton defeats Baton Rouge 5 to 3, in the opening game, of a four game weekend series.

 

Baton Rouge would open the scoring with a run, in the second inning. Blaise Foote led off the inning with a hit by pitch. Karius Joseph would follow and reach on an error.  Foote would advance to third on a fielder's choice by Nathan Beyer and would score on a balk by the Pioneer's pitcher. Wharton would tie the game at one with a run, in the third. The Pioneers would take a 3-1 lead, in the fifth inning, when J Ford would single scoring two runs. In the seventh, Baton Rouge would inch closer with a run. Cody Crifasi would hit a triple to right field and later score on a Pioneer's error. After seven innings, the Pioneers held a slim 3 to 2 lead.  The Bears would tie the game at 3 when Deionte Norris would lead off with a double to left field and he would score on an Alex Guilbeau ground out. In the bottom of the frame, the Bear's pitching staff struggled a bit with a lead off hit by pitch then a 2 run homerun by A. Gauthier to seal the Wharton Pioneers 5 to 3 victory.

 

Josh Salinas would earn the victory for the Wharton Pioneers.  Josh threw one inning allowing 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.  Dane Wise took the loss for the Baton Rouge Bears. Dane pitched 3 innings allowing 2 runs on 1 hit, while walking 2 and striking out 2. Returning Freshman Jacob Poe started the game on the mound for the Bears. Jacob pitched 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits while striking out 9.

 

With the victory, Wharton improves to 4- 3 on the season while Baton Rouge falls to 1-4.

 

Bears Highlights:

Nathan Carriere went 1 for 3 with 1 BB.

Deionte Norris went 2 for 3 with 1 Run and 1 BB.

Cody Crifasi went 1 for 3 with 1 Run.

Alex Guilbeau had 1 RBI.

Jacob Poe pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 Runs on 3 Hits while striking out 9.

 

 

The Bears and the Pioneers will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 12 pm at Corbett Park in Wharton, Texas.