In their season-opening week, the Bearcat baseball team logged a 3-1 start to the season.

On March 31, the Cats scored 6 runs in the third inning on their way to an 11-1 victory over the Beloit Trojans. Lane Rolfs, Ben Hipp, Gavin Moyer, Dax Leiker, Cade Gwinner and Layton Leiker each drove in runs during the inning.

The Cats got things started in the first inning when Rolfs grounded out, scoring 1 run.

In the third inning, the offense was led by Rolfs, Hipp, Moyer, Dax Leiker, Gwinner and Layton Leiker, all knocking in runs in the inning.

Rolfs was the winning pitcher for the Cats. He surrendered one run on 4 hits over four-and-athird innings, striking out nine and walking one. Brody Shearer threw two-thirds of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Beloit, on the other hand, allowed 3 hits and 4 runs over two innings, striking out one.

The Cats collected 7 hits on the day. Cole Webber and Rolfs each collected multiple hits for Ellsworth. Rolfs and Webber both had two hits leading the Cats.

The Bearcats didn’t commit a single error, while Layton Leiker made the most plays with 10.

The second game was a heartbreaker for the Cats, as they lost the lead late in a 13-10. The game was tied at 10 all, with the Trojans batting in the top of the seventh when an error scored 1 run for Beloit. Despite the loss, the Cats collected 8 hits in the high-scoring game. Unfortunately, Beloit had 14 hits on the way to victory.

The Trojans opened up scoring in the second inning, scoring 2 runs when one of their batters hit a single.

The Cats scored 4 runs in the fifth inning by Wyatt Bohnen and Shearer and sacrifice flies by Gavin Moyer and by Daxton Leiker.

Hipp pitched two innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and striking out one.

Webber started the game for the Cats. The righty lasted two innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 runs while striking out three.

The Cats tallied 8 hits for the day. Layton Leiker and Rolfs each managed multiple hits for Ellsworth.

“Our pitch count ratio with ball-to-strikes has to be better,” Head Coach Jason McWilliams said. “We can’t spot a team 5 runs early and expect to win. I was proud of how we battled back to take the

“I felt pretty good about the games. One thing we did well was not giving up, and we need to work on throwing strikes because we walked too many people.”

Gavin Moyer Sophomore lead. We didn’t finish though.”

Ellsworth vs. Ellis

There were runs aplenty on March 28 as the Ellsworth Bearcats defeated the Ellis Railroaders 12-8.

The Cats took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning.

In the third, an error scored 1 run for the Cats. Brody Shearer singled on a 0-1 count, scoring 1 run, and Gavin Moyer singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs.

The Cats put up 4 runs in the fifth inning.

Big bats in the inning were led by a sacrifice fly by Cole Webber and Layton Leiker and a double by Lane Rolfs.

Webber was the winning pitcher for the Bearcats. The righty allowed 1 hit and 1 run over two-and-a-third innings, striking out five. Ben Hipp and Cade Gwinner entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

Rolfs started the game for Ellsworth. The lefthander lasted oneand- two-thirds innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs while striking out five.

The Cats racked up 9 hits in the game. Rolfs and Daxton Leiker each had multiple hits.

Daxton Leiker and Rolfs both had 2 hits to lead the team.

The Cats claimed an 8-5 victory, despite a big push by Ellis in the second inning. Three batters from Ellis contributed to the big inning with RBIs.

The Cats pulled away for good with 4 runs in the third inning. In the third, Ben Hipp hit into a fielder’s choice, but 1 run scored. Wyatt Bohnen tripled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring 2 runs and Brody Shearer’s sacrifice fly scored 1 run for Ellsworth.

Bohnen was the winning pitcher for the Cats. He allowed zero hits and zero runs over three innings, striking out four. Lane Rolfs threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Shearer started the game for the Cats. The fireballer went three innings, allowing 3 runs on three hits and striking out two.

Gavin Moyer went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits.

“I would say the first two games against Ellis we pitched well for the most part and played pretty good defense,” Rolfs said.

“I felt pretty good about the games,” Gavin Moyer said. “One thing we did well was not giving up, and we need to work on throwing strikes because we walked too many people.”

The Bearcats’ next game is a double header at 4 p.m. on April 10 at Ellinwood.