Box score
DURANT, Okla. -- Missed opportunities haunted the Bearcats on opening day, as the Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm defeated SBU, 6-2. The 'Cats had chances with the bases loaded in the third and sixth innings, but couldn't get anyone across either time. "We needed hits when we didn't get them. We had bases loaded twice, but struck out," said SBU head coach Sam Berg afterwards.
After Dominic Bouvier walked to lead off the third inning, junior Nigel Morton reached base with two out when the Storm second baseman couldn't field the ball cleanly. Third baseman Justin Barnhart followed that up with an infield hit that gave the Bearcats the perfect chance to get back the two runs allowed to Southeastern in the first inning. A ground out to third, however, left the three runners stranded.
SBU was able to get on the board in the fourth, when senior Kyle Wise led off with a deep shot to left and made it a 3-1 game. The Storm were able to get that run back in the bottom half of the inning, and kept a three run lead going into the sixth inning, where the 'Cats had their best shot of the game to make a comeback run.
Right fielder Taylor Trotter started off with a hit to the right side, the 'Cats fifth of the game to that point. When Wise and Paden Grubbs worked the count and got back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs, Southeastern brought in reliever Dan McKinney, who struck out the side to kill the rally.
Greg Seay took the loss for the Bearcats, but showed some promise to the upcoming season. Seay struck out six and walked only one, allowing three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Josh Brock pitched the middle innings in relief, giving up one earned run in 2 1/3 innings, while Seth Tucker threw a scoreless eighth inning.
Coach Berg tipped his hat to the opposing side. "They've been outside more, and it showed. They put it in play more; we played okay, but some errors we made really hurt and gave them a couple runs." Southeastern scored two unearned runs off of errors, one in the two-run first inning, and another later in the seventh, to go up 6-1. Berg saw positives in the loss. "Josh Brock threw well in relief; the team only walked two and struck out six, and Paden Grubbs had some good at bats, with his home run, but even some of his outs were hard-hit balls." Along with Wise and Grubbs, Morton had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
SBU will continue the three-game set against Southeastern Oklahoma, with a double header on Saturday, February 6. Expected to take the mound for the Bearcats will be junior Justin Wright in the first game, followed by sophomore Ethan Stenger for the second. The first of two seven inning matchups is scheduled to start at noon.