Australian Baseball League

BRISBANE, 12 January - The first-place Canberra Cavalry, driven by Rolfe Renault dropped both games of Friday's doubleheader by a score of 6-1 to the Brisbane Bandits. The first game closed out the third series of the season and the second game officially opened this weekend's series.

The weekend started off with the continuation of the rain delayed game from 17 November. The game picked up in the fourth inning with the Cavalry down 6-1. Unfortunately that is where the game would finish as well two months later.

Bandits starting pitcher James Albury shut the Cavalry bats down only allowing two hits in the continuation of the game. The Cavalry bullpen combination of Eric Massingham, Kyle Perkins, and Chris Morgan closed the game out for the Cavalry.

In game two, the Cavalry were unable to bounce back and surrendered to the Bandits by a score of 6-1 again.

Starting pitcher Brian Grening was tagged with his first loss of the year giving up six runs, all off of home runs. The game started off rough for the Cavalry. After a single, a walk, and a double, Grening left a pitch over the plate allowing CJ Beatty to drive one over the fence to give the Bandits and early 3-0 lead. The Bandits added another in the fourth thanks to a lead off home run from Cody Clark.

The Cavalry answered back in the fifth with a home run of their own. Ryan Stovall proved to be the highlight of the night scoring the only Cavalry run with a long ball over the right field fence, to bring the Cavalry back into striking distance, 4-1.

However the Bandits pulled away with the game in the sixth thanks to another home run, the fourth of the game, to drive home two more runs and give the Bandits a 6-1 lead.

The Cavalry will look to avenge tonight losses Saturday for a doubleheader. Game times are set for 5pm and 8pm. The weekend will wrap up with game five on Sunday at 1pm.