WITH the post-season hunt heating up across British baseball, the Bournemouth Bears split their match-up with the Richmond Knights, writes Andy Moore.

Both teams entered the day with 11-3 records and atop of their respective divisions after playing strong baseball all season. Two hard fought games followed, with several standout moments showcasing the best of the British game.

Jose Lopez took the mound in game one, starting his seventh game of the year and looking to pick up his eighth win. After throwing 116 pitches he did just that, striking out six of the Richmond batters across seven innings. Manager, Ben Hyde, singled out Lopez’s consistency as he battled against a strong Knights' lineup.

In typical Bears’ fashion the game was close from the get go, the visitors got the first run of the game in the top of the first with Jesus Pestana scoring on a sacrifice fly. However, Bournemouth got off to an even better start as Lopez drove in Hyde to tie the game, before Roger Cedeno singled to centre field to bring home Williams Vega.

Three scoreless innings followed as visiting pitcher Matthew Kozlowski and Lopez went back and forth with the respective batting orders. The home side added a run in the fifth as Hyde made his way in for his second run of the game, leaving the score at 3-1 entering the seventh and final inning.

After a walk and an error Richmond went ahead on a Carlos Casal home run to deep left centre field. That set the scene for a tense final stand for the top of the Bears’ batting order. Hyde put the exclamation point on a great game at the plate to start things off, hitting a single to centre field. Vega then earned a four pitch walk to bring Jose Bobadilla into the batter's box.

In dramatic fashion Bobadilla then hit Bournemouth’s second walk off home run of the season, leading to great scenes of celebration as he crossed home plate. The Bears won game one 6-4.

Richmond got their revenge in game two behind some strong pitching from Rei Martinez, picking up an 8-2 victory.

There were however, a number of strong individual performances from the home side. Bobadilla continued his impressive day at the plate, adding another two hits to take his season total to 21, his batting average to .396 and earning the player of the day honours. Carlos Ares was also singled out for praise from Hyde after the game after picking up a hit and showing continued signs of improvement across the board.

The Bears travel to the capital this weekend to take on the 7-5 London Sidewinders.