COLOMA – Alone in first place in the Lakeland Conference and facing a team that hasn’t won a game in league play yet, visiting Brandywine knew Tuesday was an important doubleheader.

The Bobcat baseball team could hardly afford a letdown against the Comets with only a game lead in the standings and some bigger challenges ahead.

Brandywine came out and took care of business Tuesday afternoon and swept Coloma 11-0 in five innings and 8-2.

The sweep improved the Bobcats to 5-1 in league play and 10-7 overall.

The wins over Coloma were also big from a mental standpoint.

Already having suffered through several key injuries, Brandywine has been forced to play the next few weeks without starter Kyle King.

“I was so happy with the way my team responded on the road today considering our adversity. We were without two of our three top pitchers,” Brandywine coach David Sidenbender said, “Kyle King is out wth a cut finger and Joe Godfrey is out because of a violation of team rules.”

Dustan Bell tossed a one-hitter in the opening game to record the shutout.

Alex Erwin earned his first varsity victory with a three-hitter in the second contest.

“Bell (Dustin) and Alex Erwin pitched great and really matured today. Our offense showed up today,” Sidenbender said.

The Bobcats collected 14 hits in both games.

Brian Exner had six hits in the doubleheader, while Ralph Sater finished with five hits and David Schoenleber drove in five runs.

Buck Bourdon had a pair of doubles in the first game. Bell and Schoenleber also doubled.

In the second game, Derek Nichols and Sater picked out doubles.

First game
Brandywine 032 15 – 11 14 0
Coloma 000 00 – 0 1 2
WP – Dustin Bell and Austin Searles
LP – Mcguire and Collins
2B: Buck Bourdon (B) 2, Bell (B), David Schoenleber (B)

Second game
Brandywine 310 0211 – 8 14 1
Coloma 110 000 0 – 2 3 2
WP – Alex Erwin and Austin Searles
LP – Greio and Collins
2B: Derek Nichols (B), Ralph Sater (B)
Varsity record: Brandywine 10-7, 5-1 Lakeland