by Michael D. Gunnell
Southwest Sports Information
Freshman catcher Tyler White drove in four runs and scored what proved to be the winning run as the Bears defeated the visiting LSUA-JV Generals, 5-4, in game two to achieve a split in their Tuesday doubleheader. The Generals took the opener 7-2.
The Bears (1-1) trailed 1-0 in the nightcap as they came to bat in the bottom of the second. Paco Belloreached on a lead-off walk. Moving to second on an Isaiah Davis single and to third on Michael Buck's sacrifice, Bello then scored on White's sacrifice fly.
Two hit batters, two walks and a sacrifice fly resulted in a pair of runs, and a 3-1 lead, for the Generals in the top of the third. White's line-drive single then scored Bello, on base with a lead-off single, in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Bears' deficit to 3-2.
The Generals scored their final run of the game in their half of the fifth to increase their lead to 4-2.
White came through again in the bottom of the sixth to give the Bears the win. After Bello reached on an single to lead off the frame, Davis singled for the second time in the game and White's triple to left score them both. A passed ball then allowed White to race home to give the Bears the winning edge.
"Coming into the game, I was a little nervous," said White because "it was my first college game. But, when I got in the (batter's) box, all my nerves were gone (and) I was ready to hit. Michael Buck (batting) in front of me, laid down some sacs and gave me a good opportunity and I knocked them in."
Lane Gordon picked up the win in relief for the Bears, allowing one run on one hit while walking a pair and striking out one in two innings on the mound. Mitchell Foreman surrendered one hit and struck out one in one inning of work to record the save.
Quartez Brown had a double in the game while Payton Yawn also hit safely.
The Bears trailed 1-0 before taking their first at bat in game one. A Kyle Singleton hit to right field scored Nathan Yennie, on was with a one-out double, to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
The Generals then scored a pair of runs in the top of the third and two more in the fifth to move out to a 5-1 advantage.
Singleton's second hit of the game scored Brown, on base via a fielder's choice in the Bears' half of the fifth to make the score 5-2. The Generals added two more runs in the top of the sixth to reach the final score.
Cody Miller took the loss on the mound, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits in four innings. He struck out two batters. Buck singled in the game.
With their games at Louisiana College, scheduled for Wednesday postponed due to the threat of inclement weather, the Bears will now play next on Saturday against Arkansas Baptist College. Game one of the doubleheader is set for a 2:00 first pitch.