Bobcats Win Streak Now Extended to 7 Games

Game One:

Mercer County struck first with a pair of runs in the opening inning, using a double from Kevin Stewart and an RBI single from Shaniel Maldonado to take an early lead. Bryant & Stratton responded immediately in the bottom half with a massive inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Nelson Zapata that flipped the game in an instant. The Bobcats continued to pour it on with patience at the plate and timely hitting, adding more runs on a walk, a passed ball, and a two-run double from Benjamin Meeks to cap an eight-run first inning.

After Mercer County added a run in the third, Bryant & Stratton answered again with a five-run frame, capitalizing on walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a two-run double from Yaniel Torres Rodriguez to extend the lead. Mercer County showed some life in the fourth with a four-run inning, including a three-run homer from Stewart, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome as the Bobcats maintained control.

Bryant & Stratton continued to add on late, pushing across a run in the fifth before sealing the game in the sixth with back-to-back home runs from Ben Malone and Zapata. With consistent offense throughout the lineup and enough pitching to hold off any comeback attempt, the Bobcats rolled to a dominant 17-7 victory.

Game Two:

Bryant & Stratton wasted no time jumping in front, putting together a big first inning sparked by a three-run home run from Nelson Zapata before adding another run on an RBI single from Yadier Molina. The momentum carried into the second inning as the Bobcats struck again, highlighted by an RBI double from Ben Malone and another two-run homer from Zapata, followed by an RBI double from Sylvester Clarke to build a commanding early lead.

Mercer County began to chip away, getting on the board in the second before a three-run home run from Anthony Crudo in the third cut into the deficit. Bryant & Stratton responded in the fourth with a two-run single from Roy Rodriguez to stretch the lead, but Mercer County continued to apply pressure. A four-run fifth inning, fueled by extra-base hits from Shaniel Maldonado, Crudo, and Quaran Williams, brought the visitors back within striking distance, and they continued to add runs in the sixth and seventh to tighten the game late.

With momentum shifting and the lead down to a single run, Bryant & Stratton found a crucial insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when Ray Gonzalez delivered an RBI single to score Yaniel Torres Rodriguez. That proved to be the difference as the Bobcats held off the late push, securing an 11-10 victory.