Nunez earns doubleheader split, takes weekend series over BRCC

BATON ROUGE – Noah Detillier and Matthew Cody combined to drive in 7 runs, each hitting a homer, as Nunez Community College battled past Baton Rouge Community College in the opener of a Saturday conference doubleheader at Pete Goldsby Field.

In Game 2, the Bears rebounded strongly, securing a 13-2 victory in a game that ended after 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run rule.

GAME 1 – NUNEZ 10 BATON ROUGE 7 (7 innings)

The Bears opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, with their first 2 runs coming on a double, an infield error, and 2 singles. They then added 2 more runs after loading the bases with one out, scoring on a fielder’s choice force-out at second base.

However, the Pelicans fought back with 7 runs in their next two at bats to take the lead for good. In the top of the third, Cody led off with a blast to left field, and later Detillier hit one over the high left-centerfield wall to score Dorien Jackson, who had walked, cutting the lead to 4-3.

Nunez then scored 4 runs in the fourth inning. After Cohen Veron walked and Evan Rohlfs hit a line double into the left-field corner to advance him to third, James Bendeck singled to center to score Veron and move Rohlfs to third. A pair of walks, a wild pitch, and Detillier’s bloop single into short right-center netted 3 more runs, putting the Pelicans ahead 7-4.

Baton Rouge responded with one run in the bottom half on 2 singles and 2 walks, but the Pelicans countered in the top of the fifth on Cody’s RBI-fielder’s choice groundout, scoring Veron, to go up 8-5.

The Bears scored their final runs in the bottom of the fifth without putting the ball in play, loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch followed by 2 walks, with 2 runs scoring on a wild pitch and a balk.

Leading by just one at 8-7 after five innings, the Pelicans scored 2 insurance runs in each of the final 2 frames. In the sixth, Detillier drew a walk and later scored on Sully Stringer’s pop double into right field. In the seventh, Rohlfs led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Bendeck, and scored on Cody’s double to right, making the final score 10-7.

Andre Roux, who entered in relief in the third inning after recording a save in Friday’s game, picked up the win. Closer Ira Austin relieved Roux in the fifth and pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs and just 2 harmless singles.

Nunez outslugged BRCC with 19 total bases to 9, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

Score By Innings – Sat 4/06 Game 1
Nunez – 003 411 1 – 10 10 2
BRCC – 040 120 0 – 7 8 2
Forbes, Adr Roux (2), Austin (5) and Rohlfs.
Godchaux, Veronie (4), Manuel (4), Quebodeaux (7) and Fontenot.
W – Adr Roux L – Godchaux S – Austin
2B – Fontenot, Stringer, Cody, Rohlfs
HR – Cody, Detillier

GAME 2 – BATON ROUGE 13 NUNEZ 2 (5 innings)

The second game on Saturday belonged to the Bears as they salvaged the final game of the weekend series, racing out to a 4-0 lead in their first at-bat on 2 walks, 2 singles, and Isaac Lege’s 2-run homer to left.

The Pelicans managed a single run in the second as Stringer singled to left, moved to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, and scored on Rohlf’s RBI groundout.

The Bears added two more runs in the bottom half on 3 consecutive doubles, and then followed that up with 3 more in the third on 3 walks, 2 doubles, and a wild pitch.

With a 9-1 lead, the home team scored their final runs in the fourth on 2 walks, 2 singles, another double, and an infield error.

Nunez plated a final run in the top of the fifth as Veron led off with a double, was singled to third by Colin Cure, and scored on Cody’s sacrifice fly to center, making the final score 13-2. The game was called after 5 innings due to the 10-run rule.

Starting pitcher Owen Ponthieux went all 5 innings for Baton Rouge, allowing 4 hits and just one earned run while striking out 4.

In a reversal of Game 1, the Bears outslugged the Pelicans this time with 20 total bases to 5.

Score By Innings – Sat 4/06 Game 2
Nunez – 010 01 – 2 4 1
BRCC – 423 4x – 13 11 0
Game called after 5 innings, 10-run rule
Cortez, Dearing (2), Bordes (3), Reed (4), Bryant (4)
and Rohlfs, Cure (4). Ponthieux and Corkern.
W – Ponthieux L – Cortez
2B – Corkern, Hornback, Reinholtz, Richard 2, Patin, Veron
HR – Lege SF – Cody

NEXT UP:
Nunez and Delgado Community College will begin the second round of NJCAA Division I Region 23 conference play next Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14, with another 3-game series at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium. The teams will start with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and conclude with a single game on Sunday, also at 1 p.m.