Brandywine’s baseball team saved its best hitting for the end in Tuesday’s Lakeland Conference doubleheader against Bridgman.

But it wasn’t enough to salvage a split as the Bobcats lost game two, 6-5. In the opener, the Bees won 3-0.

Brandywine scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two. After the third out, the game was called because of darkness. It’s an official game.

“We did a good job of putting the ball in play for the most part,” said Brandywine coach Dave Sidenbender about his team’s offense in the fifth inning of game two. “I really can’t explain it. I don’t think we saw any better pitches. The pitching was the same. We just, maybe, concentrated more. Good things happen when you put the bat on the ball. Maybe that will translate tomorrow and the next day and progress and get better.”

Brian Kline collected a two-run double and Mike Pancoast added an RBI single in the fifth for the Bobcats. With one out, Pancoast was caught stealing second and a third out came on a strikeout.

“It was a hit and run,” Sidenbender said about the failed steal. “We didn’t put the ball in play. I wanted to get things in motion. It was a pitch that was hittable.”

For most of the doubleheader, Brandywine hurt themselves with its poor defense play and lack of clutch hitting. The Bobcats committed six errors in the two games, which led to six unearned runs for Bridgman.

“We just didn’t execute well at all defensively and offensively,” Sidenbender said. “There were times we didn’t throw enough strikes, but I thought our pitching was good enough for us today to win.”

Brandywine stranded nine runners in the opener, including seven in scoring position. Kyle Duncan singled twice for the Bobcats.

Bridgman scored two unearned runs in the second inning. Jake Pappa collected an RBI double in the third inning for the Bees.

“You’ve got to score and you’ve got to make plays (defensively),” Sidenbender said. “We didn’t make plays. That’s what beat us.”

In game two, Bridgman scored four runs — three unearned — in the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead.

Brandywine began its rally in the fifth with one out as Brock Hartline walked and Dom Stella was hit by a pitch before Kline and Pancoast delivered key hits.

“They’re seniors and it’s coming down to the end and they’re doing a pretty good job of putting some good at-bats together,” Sidenbender said about Kline and Pancoast.

Pancoast also had an RBI single in the third inning, which tied the game at two.

Sidenbender was asked if he knew during the fifth inning that it would be the last inning in the game.

“I figured that it was going to happen,” Sidenbender said. “Once the sun goes behind the school, it’s pretty much done.”

 

First game

Bridgman 021 000 0 – 3 4 1

Brandywine 000 000 0 – 0 5 2

Brady Wasko (W) and Michael Krynicky; Kyle Duncan (L, 2-2), Alex Walters (4) and Ashton Kwieran

2B: Jake Pappa (BR)

 

Second game

Bridgman 011 40 – 6 6 0

Brandywine 101 03 – 5 3 4

Tyler Gnodtke (W) and Michael Krynicky; Matt Vaughn (L, 1-1), Alex Walters (5), Brock Hartline (5) and Ashton Kwieran

2B: Kyle Rotando (BR), Matt Hendricks (BR), Brian Kline (BW)

Varsity records: Bridgman 9-0, 2-0 Lakeland; Brandywine 7-5-1, 0-2 Lakeland