Finally able to get some baseball action in late last week, Wayland McKague’s Hermann Bearcats hit the road for a pair of Four Rivers Conference (FRC) road games last Thursday in St. Clair and last Friday in St. James.

Trailing 3-1 after three inning Friday in St. James, Hermann could not overcome a four-run fifth inning by the Tigers before ending up on the wrong side of a 9-1 final score.

Carter Humphrey was the first Bearcat to reach base in St. James in the top of the first inning when he reached on an error before being retired as part of an inning-ending double play.

Inning number two saw Corbin Sadler get hit by a pitch before Cole Brinker walked to put two Bearcats on base with only one out only to see two strikeouts end the frame.

Scoring their lone run in the top of the third inning, Kruz Eldringhoff singled with one out before scoring on a Humphrey RBI single cutting St. James’ lead to 2-1 at the time.

Trent Chasteen was hit by a pitch to start the top of the fourth before he was picked off for the first out of the inning.

Sadler then walked before Braden Schutt was hit by a pitch putting two runners on base with two outs.

A strikeout ended the inning and Hermann’s latest scoring chance.

Chasteen singled in the top of the sixth before he was retired as part of an inning-ending double play.

In a do-or-die top of the seventh inning, Brinker led off being hit by a pitch before being retired on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Schutt.

Brady Traub kept the inning going being hit by a pitch before St. James’ third double play ended the game.

Kyle Koch took the loss pitching four and a third innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks to go with seven strikeouts.

Bearcats at St. Clair

Falling behind 1-0 after one inning in FRC baseball action last Thursday at St. Clair, Hermann’s Bearcats allowed four runs in the bottom of the second inning and three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning during their 9-0 loss in Franklin County against the host Bulldogs.

Eldringhoff drew a one-out walk in the top of the first inning to erase any thoughts early of a perfect game from St. Clair.

Bracksten Carr then broke up St. Clair’s bid for a no-hitter with a one-out single in the top of the sixth inning before Sadler and Koch both singled in the top of the seventh inning during Hermann’s best scoring chance against the Bulldogs.

Nolan Ogroski pitched an inning allowing an unearned run to go with one strikeout before Carr pitched the final five innings in relief allowing eight runs (two earned) on nine hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.

Hosting New Haven Monday night, Hermann will hold senior night tomorrow (Thursday) at Dick Ochsner Ball Park hosting South Callaway’s Bulldogs with a 4:30 p.m., first pitch and senior night to follow.