LINN — Unable to overcome a five-run inning by Hermann’s Bearcats in pool play Friday afternoon during the Linn Wildcat Baseball Tournament, Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tigers looked to bounce back Saturday at Linn High School in the third-place game against their Highway 28 neighbors to the far west in Dixon’s Bulldogs.

Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tiger catcher Hank Stratman led the frame off with a single before moving to second and third base on consecutive ground outs by Cameron Rehmert and Cooper Durbin.

Luke Rohrer then delivered a clutch two-out RBI single plating Stratman helping Belle hold off Dixon 4-2 as they had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning.

Belle started the scoring for Dixon with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning.

Stratman singled before stealing second and third base.

He then scored on a Rehmert RBI single to get the Tigers on the board.

Rehmert scored later in the inning on an error doubling Belle’s lead to 2-0 after a frame of baseball from Linn.

Scoring ceased until the bottom of the fourth inning when another two-out rally led to a Tiger run.

Ryder Butler doubled with two outs before a Glayden Woodruff walk and Ruger Schlottog being hit by a pitch loaded the bases for Belle starting pitcher Garrett Gehlert.

Drawing a four-pitch walk, Gehlert reached allowing Butler to score giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

After three hits led to Dixon’s first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning, Belle used yet another two-out rally to get that run back.

Stratman reached base for the third time in the game on an error before scoring on Rohrer’s aforementioned RBI single.

Able to finish the game, Gehlert earned a complete-game victory allowing two runs on four hits and two walks to go with five strikeouts.

Rafen Baker took the loss for Dixon allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out nine.

Friday pool play at Belle during the Linn Tournament saw the Tigers fall 7-5 at Hermann after defeating Cuba 8-3.

Scoreless entering the top of the second against Hermann, Belle issued five walks and allowed three hits which turned into five Bearcat runs.

Belle began to chip away in the bottom of the fourth inning getting a run back Durbin RBI single which scored Stratman after he drew a one-out walk.

Hermann answered with two runs in the top of the fifth putting the Tigers in a 7-1 hole after five innings.

Gage Terrill hit a solo home run over the left-field fence starting the bottom of the sixth inning before Stratman singled and scored on a Durbin RBI ground out cutting Hermann’s lead to 7-3 after six innings.

Relieving Stratman, Ryder Butler held Hermann scoreless in the top of the seventh inning keep Belle within one swing of at least tying the game in the bottom half of the seventh.

Hunter Wulff started the frame being hit by a pitch before a Gage Terrill walk led to a two-out RBI single from Stratman that scored Wulff.

Rehmert then walked bringing the potential tying run to the plate before an infield fly out ended the game sending Hermann to the championship game in which they won 13-7 over South Callaway Saturday afternoon.

Opening Linn Tournament pool play against Cuba, Belle scored twice in the first, second, third and seventh innings of their 8-3 victory over the Wildcats.

Playing as the visiting team against Cuba, Belle scored first when Gehlert walked and scored on a Stratman RBI ground out before Terrill singled and scored when Rehmert reached on an error.

Belle doubled their lead in the top of the second on a two-RBI double from Terrill that scored Woodruff and Rohrer.

Woodruff was hit by a pitch and Rohrer singled to set up Terrill’s clutch two-out hit.

Inning number three saw Rehmert and Butler both single and score bumping the Tiger lead to 6-0 after three innings.

After Cuba cut Belle’s lead in half with three runs in the bottom of the third, Rehmert delivered a two-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the seventh capping the Tiger scoring.

Terrill earned the win pitching six innings allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.

Combining for seven of Belle’s eight hits were Terrill (3), Rehmert (2) and Rohrer (2).

That same trio also drove in seven of Belle’s eight runs.

Rehmert had three RBIs while Terrill and Rohrer each had two apiece.

Last Thursday in Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) road baseball at Bourbon, Belle broke open a 3-0 game after five innings with six runs each in the sixth and seventh innings of their 15-1 victory along Interstate 44.

Rehmert showed the way for the Tigers with three hits, six RBIs and two runs scored.

Tiger baseball will return to action on Easter Monday hosting Cuba in a GVC showdown at Tiger Field with a 4:30 p.m., first pitch.