Bears drop conference opener to Dolphins in New Orleans
Friday, April 10, 2026: Baseball
New Orleans, LA
The Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the Delgado Dolphins at Kirsch Rooney Stadium this evening, kicking off a four-game conference series. It was a tightly contested matchup until the Dolphins hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, breaking the game open and ultimately claiming victory in game one with a score of 5-1 over the Bears.
The Dolphins struck first, scoring a run in the first inning to take an early lead. For the next three innings, both teams' pitchers held firm, with neither side able to score. The Bears tied the game in the top of the fifth inning when Cayden Vice led off with a double to centerfield. Jayden Jackson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Vice to third base, and Vice scored after an error by the pitcher allowed Hudson Heltz to reach base.
Delgado regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it 2-1. The Dolphins extended their advantage in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run homer by R. Rowell to right field. After seven innings, the Dolphins led 5-1. The Bears were unable to score in the final two innings, falling to the Dolphins 5-1 in the first game of the weekend series.
Tanner Cranford started on the mound for the Bears and took the loss, pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits while walking 6 and striking out 5. Cole Cranford (2.0 innings) and Spencer Srubar (1.0 inning) pitched in relief for the Bears. Giancarlo Arencibia started for the Dolphins and earned the victory, pitching 8 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits, with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts.
Delgado outhit Baton Rouge 9 to 6, with the Dolphins committing three errors compared to one for the Bears.
Bears Highlights:
- Brecken Bordelon: 1 for 4
- Jay Stelly: 1 for 4
- Brayden Bertucci: 1 for 4
- Cayden Vice: 1 for 4 with 1 run and 1 double
- Jayden Jackson: 1 for 2
- Cooper Martin: 1 for 4
With this loss, the Bears fall to 4-35, 0-9 in conference play, while the Dolphins improve to 22-11, 7-2 for the season. Delgado leads the all-time series with 98 wins to Baton Rouge's 36 losses.
Up Next:
The Bears and Dolphins continue their conference series tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, with a pair of games starting at 1 PM at Kirsch Rooney Stadium.
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