The Berkshire baseball team built an early cushion and then answered every push, holding off Independence baseball for an 8-6 win on Thursday.
The Badgers improved to 6-6, while Independence dropped to 7-3 after nearly erasing a late deficit.
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Berkshire wasted no time getting on the board, plating three runs in the first inning behind aggressive baserunning and timely hitting. Sam Barcikoski set the tone by reaching, stealing third, and eventually scoring on an RBI single from Patrick Brancel. A two-out, two-run single from Evan Pollock capped the early surge and gave the Badgers a 3-0 lead.
Independence chipped away in the third, taking advantage of traffic on the bases. Josh Peters and Ryan Suhy reached to start the inning, and Vinny Carriero helped manufacture a run with a fielder’s choice. The Blue Devils added another on an error to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Berkshire answered right back in the bottom half. Bear Masink doubled with two outs and later stole home after advancing to third, extending the lead to 4-2 and keeping momentum in the Badgers’ dugout.
Independence kept coming. In the fifth, Carriero again sparked the offense with a leadoff single, later scoring as the Blue Devils capitalized on another defensive miscue. A passed ball brought home a second run, tying the score 4-4.
But Berkshire delivered its biggest response in the bottom of the fifth. Barcikoski reached to ignite the rally, and Patrick Brancel came through again with an RBI single. Masink followed with another run-scoring hit, and Brancel capped the inning by stealing home, pushing the Badgers back in front 7-4.
Independence made one last charge in the sixth. After Kaden Schuette and Suhy reached, Carriero delivered the biggest swing of the night—a two-run double that cut the deficit to 7-6 and put pressure back on Berkshire.
The Badgers answered immediately. Barcikoski worked a walk, then used his speed to steal home in the bottom half, providing a critical insurance run and closing the scoring at 8-6.
On the mound, Aidan Andre earned the win for Berkshire, allowing just one earned run over four innings while striking out four. Holden Hedrick handled the final three innings to secure the victory.
Berkshire travels to Orange on Friday, while Independence returns home to host Garrett Morgan.
Top Players
- Patrick Brancel (Berkshire Badgers): 2-3, 2R, 2 RBI, BB
- Bear Masink (Berkshire Badgers): 2-2, 2R, RBI, 2B
- Sam Barcikoski (Berkshire Badgers): 1-2, 3R, BB
- Vinny Carriero (Independence Blue Devils): 2-4, 2R, 3 RBI, 2B
- Ryan Suhy (Independence Blue Devils): 1-2, R, 2B
