BELLE — Entering pool play of the Linn Invitational Baseball Tournament at Belle High School Friday afternoon, Wayland McKague’s Hermann Bearcats were looking to snap a five-game losing streak in their first of two games at Belle’s Tiger Field against Cuba’s Wildcats.

Jumping out to a 3-0 lead after one inning, Hermann put up another three-spot in the bottom of the third inning helping them go on to post a 7-0 shutout of Cuba.

Nolan Ogroski earned the complete-game victory throwing a two-hit shutout while allowing on three walks to go with nine strikeouts.

After pitching around a pair of hit batters in the top of the first inning, Hermann’s offense got their first chance to help Ogroski pitch with a lead.

Carter Humphrey started a two-out rally in the bottom of the first with a single before an Ogroski single and a Braden Schutt walk loaded the bases for Cole Brinker.

Drawing a RBI walk on six pitches, Brinker gave the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead.

Kyle Koch then delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-out, two-RBI double scoring Ogroski and Schutt giving the Bearcats a 3-0 advantage after one inning.

After a scoreless second inning, Hermann added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Humphrey reached on an error to lead off the frame before Ogroski was hit by a pitch.

After Humphrey stole second base, A Schutt ground out advanced Humphrey and Ogroski to second and third base respectively bringing Koch to the plate with a shot to do more damage.

Delivering a two-RBI triple to right field, Koch bumped the Bearcat lead to 5-0.

Coming through from the ninth spot in the lineup, Kohlt Witthaus recorded a RBI single to left field scoring Koch putting the Bearcats in front 6-0 after three innings.

While Ogroski was pitching around hit batters and walks over the next two innings, Hermann scored the final run against Cuba in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kruz Eldringhoff walked and scored on a Humphrey RBI single.

Humphrey and Koch each finished with two hits for the Bearcats against Cuba with Koch also driving in a team-high four runs.

With the win, Hermann now had a chance to get into the Linn Tournament title game Saturday afternoon with a win over Belle who had lost 3-2 to Cuba in the opening game of the day Friday morning.

Facing Belle ace Hank Stratman, Hermann had a tough time getting the bats going before falling 11-0 in six innings.

With all three teams finishing 1-1, Hermann wound up in the third-place game due to only scoring seven runs while Belle scored 13 in their two pool games.

Recording base hits for the Bearcats against Belle were Bracksten Carr, Humphrey, Brinker and Koch.

Brinker took the loss allowing 11 runs on 10 hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts.

Saturday afternoon in the third-place game at Linn against Dixon’s Bulldogs, Hermann scored two runs in the top half of the first inning before Dixon scored 12 unanswered runs over the next three innings leaving the Bearcats on the wrong end of a 12-2 final score in five innings.

Carr started Hermann’s two-run top of the first inning with a leadoff walk before scoring on a Humphrey RBI double with one out.

An Ogroski walk led to Humphrey taking third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Trent Chasteen RBI ground out for what turned out to be Hermann’s final run of the game.

Along with Humphrey’s double, Corbin Sadler recorded the other hit for the Bearcats against Dixon with a leadoff single in the top of the second inning.

Falling 22-0 in five innings last Tuesday at home against Union, Eldringhoff broke up Union’s bid for a no-hitter with a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Carr and Humphrey also drew consecutive walks in the bottom of the first inning erasing any plans for a perfect game.

Schutt and Carr were also hit by a pitch to reach base in the bottom of the second and third innings respectively.

Hosting Community R-6’s Trojans last night (Tuesday), Hermann will step back into Four Rivers Conference (FRC) play hosting Owensville’s Dutchmen in varsity-only action at Dick Ochsner Ball Park tomorrow (Thursday) night.

Hermann will then trek south on Highway 19 Friday for a rematch with Cuba’s Wildcats.