BOURNEMOUTH Bears' Triple-A side recorded back-to-back wins over Richmond Knights, to stay top of the table.

Game one was a close contest, with Bournemouth starter Jose Lopez working hard on the pitching mound and at the plate.

Lopez, along with short-stop Ben Hyde, was one of two players to hit a double and put runs on the board for the Bears.

Despite the Knights narrowing the gap in the fifth inning, the Bears held onto their one-run lead and closed the game 4-3 winners.

Game two featured some explosive scoring.

Rafael Ugas made his pitching debut for Bournemouth, giving up two runs to Richmond with another two runners on base, before third baseman Carlos Velazco stepped in as an unconventional relief pitcher. 

Both sides hit the ball to every part of the field. Second baseman for Bournemouth, Jose Bobadilla slammed a triple, while three Knights batters doubled, driving in five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning alone. 

The late rally was not enough, Bears 16-10 victors.

Meanwhile, the Single-A Bears hosted the Cardiff Merlins, and fell to two defeats.

After losing a double-header to the Merlins earlier in the season, the Bears were keen to test themselves against the undefeated league leaders. 

Cardiff were forceful at the plate, taking 10 hits from Bournemouth’s pitcher while the Bears were only able to move two runners across the plate.

Cardiff entered the final inning with a six-run lead, but singles from Glen Page and Grant Rowe narrowed it to two. 

With two outs and two runners on in scoring position, the game was saved for Cardiff by an incredible diving catch from the Merlin’s second baseman, Jorge Hontoria.

After losing 8-6 in game one, the Merlins stacked up their score in game two with aggressive baserunning.

Despite standout individual offence, including two doubles from pitcher Marcus Lopes and a single from Jade Bailey, the Bears suffered an emphatic 17-2 loss. 

On Sunday, Single-A Bears visit the Taunton Muskets, while the Triple-A side will host Kent Buccaneers at Ferndown.