WITH AAA enjoying a well-earned weekend off, it was the turn of the Single A Bournemouth Bears to fight through two tense games in order to keep their play-off hopes alive.

On a roasting hot day in Ferndown, Bournemouth hosted the Bristol Brunels in a divisional match-up. The reverse fixture saw the Bears take both games on the opening day of the season.

An early pitching duel got game one underway as Pete Datlen and Charlie Deeks kept the scoring low through the first inning. Both pitchers picked up strikeouts as they looked to capitalise on strong seasons on the mound.

The game opened up in the second inning as the Brunels added five runs, widening the scoreline to 7-1. A Richard Evans single to the outfield was the most impressive of the away side’s hits, scoring two runs in the process.

Unfortunately, Deeks picked up a shoulder injury that took him out of the game in the second inning, but the Brunels had another great young arm to replace him in Jake Boyer. The Bears added two runs of their own in the inning, with Eddie Donald driving in Datlen.

After Datlen kept Bristol from scoring in the third, it was the home side’s turn to score five. Coming into the game the Single A Bears were yet to record a home run on the year. All of that changed as Marcus Senior thumped the ball to deep left centre for the first home run of his Bears’ career, scoring two runs. Donald then picked up another couple of RBIs, and Andy Swann drove him in to put Bournemouth up 8-7.

That was the end of the scoring as Senior came in to close out the game in the last inning, picking up his 44th strikeout and not allowing a hit whilst sealing the win for the Bears.

Game two was a run fest, as both teams piled on the hits and combined for 43 total runs.

Staying true to his philosophy of giving everyone an opportunity, Bears’ manager, Warren Doyle, used a different pitcher in each inning with Rhi McMah, Alex Frampton, Olivia Burlinson, Andy Moore and Senior all stepping up. Frampton pitched in his first game for the Bears, impressing in his return from injury.

There were plenty of clutch moments throughout the game from both sides, but Dan Churchill twice came up big for the Bears - driving the ball to the outfield on both occasions and picking up four RBIs in the game. Churchill’s bat, alongside with his reliable play at first base earned him player of the day honours.

With the score tied at 20-20 at the end of regulation time, the game went into a fifth inning.

The Brunels added one, with Senior coming up clutch again, picking up a particularly satisfying strikeout.

Bournemouth needed two to win. Mitch Sullivan tied the game up, before Manny Baez worked his way to third base.

Datlen walked on five pitches, leaving Moore to drive in Baez with an infield single, sealing a 22-21 walk-off win.