Opening their season late last week with a pair of home games at Dick Oschner Ball Park, Wayland McKague’s Hermann Bearcats hosted Dixon’s Bulldogs and Linn’s Wildcats last Thursday and Friday night respectively.

Friday’s contest against Linn turned into a home game due to ongoing dugout renovations in Osage County.

Against Dixon in their season opener, Hermann fell behind 8-0 before plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Unable to overcome a five-run top of the seventh inning from the visiting Bulldogs, Hermann ended up on the short end of a 14-3 final score in their season opener last Thursday.

During Hermann’s three-run bottom of the fifth inning, Corbin Sadler walked and scored on a Carter Humphrey RBI double.

Humphrey then stole home scoring Hermann’s second run of the game before Bracksten Carr drew a two-out walk to keep the inning alive.

Cole Brinker then reached on an error allowing Carr to advance to third before he scored the final run of the frame.

Nolan Ogroski took the loss for Hermann pitching three and two-thirds innings allowing nine runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts.

Brinker and Humphrey each had a hit for the Bearcats while Carr and Humphrey each crossed the plate for the blue and white.

Drawing walks for Hermann against Dixon were Kyle Koch, Carr, Brinker, Ogroski and Sadler.

Falling 3-0 the next night against Linn, Koch drew a walk in the top of the first inning breaking up a Wildcat bid for a combined perfect game.

Humphrey was also hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth inning becoming Hermann second and final base runner against the Wildcats.

Facing Crosspoint Christian Monday night on the road, Hermann’s Bearcats will return to the friendly confines of Dick Oschner Ball Park tonight (Wednesday) against Crocker’s Lions with a 4:30 p.m., first pitch.