Bears fall in Region XXIII Tournament opener to the Nunez Pelicans

 Friday May 6, 2022: Baseball

Baton Rouge, La

The Baton Rouge Bears started their quest for Grand Junction with a midday match up with the Nunez Pelicans to open the Region XXIII tournament at Pete Goldsby Field. The #3 seed Nunez Pelicans would have an offensive explode at the plate as they would defeat the Baton Rouge Bears 16-6 in a seven-inning run rule.

The Nunez Pelicans would get on the board first with three runs in the first inning. The Bears would respond with two runs, in the bottom of the first, to pull within one of the Pelicans: 3-2. Blaise Foote would be hit by a pitch, Braxton Gallet would single and both would score on a Lane Hutchinson double down the left field line. The Pelicans would stay hot as they would plate two more runs, in the second inning, to increase their lead to 5- 2. Nunez would add two more runs, in the top of the third inning, to extend their lead over the Bears to 7-2. The Pelicans would plate three runs, in the fifth inning, as they would continue to grow their lead:10-2. The Bears would scratch across two runs, in the bottom of the fifth, to inch closer:10-4. Elliot Hebert would walk and move to third on a Ethan Menard double to centerfield. Lane Hutchinson would single up the middle scoring Hebert. Nick Carriere would hit a sac fly scoring Menard for the Bears second run of the frame. After five innings, the Pelicans led 10-4. The Pelicans would scratch across a run, in the sixth inning, to increase their lead to 11-4. The Bears would continue to fight and scratch as they would plate two runs, in the bottom of the six inning, but they still trailed 11-6. Elliot Hebert would walk and score on a Pelican's throwing error. Ethan Menard would reach on a fielder's choice, advance to third on that same Pelican's  throwing error and score on a ground out by Lane Hutchinson. The Pelicans would explode for five runs, in the seventh inning, to take a commanding 16-6 lead over the Bears. The Bears would go down in order, in the seventh, thus ending the game via a seven-inning run rule. The Nunez Pelicans defeat the Baton Rouge Bears 16 to 6.

Ethan Prescott started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss. Ethan pitched three and two thirds' innings allowing 7 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3. Alex Norris ( 1.0 innings), Luke Evans (1.0 innings ), Slade Zeppuhar (1.1 innings ) all pitched in relief for the Bears. P. Howard started on the mound for the Pelicans and earned the victory for the Pelicans. Howard pitched five innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 2. J. Brasseaux pitched in relief for the Pelicans.

Nunez outhit Baton Rouge 16 to 8. Baton Rouge committed 4 errors compared to 3 for Nunez.

Bears Game Highlights 

Blaise Foote went 1 for 3 with 1 run

Braxton Gallet went 2 for 4 with 1 run

Elliot Hebert had 2 BB and 2 runs

Ethan Menard went 1 for 3 with 2 runs, and 1 BB

Lane Hutchinson went 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs

Trey Webb went 1 for 1

Jacob Dunn went 1 for 1 

With the victory, the Nunez Pelicans improve to 25-20, while the Baton Rouge Bears fall to 27-30 on the season.

The Bears will conclude the first day of the Region XXIII tournament with an evening match up with the #1 seed Delgado Dolphins.

For more information on the Bears Baseball team follow us on Twitter at (@BRCC_Baseball) and Instagram and Facebook at (BRCCAthletics)