Game 1 | Game 2 | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The softball Bearcats won two very different games on Thursday, defeating the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons 12-3 in game one of a doubleheader, followed by a 1-0 victory in the following game. Seven Bearcats had two or more hits in the opening game, and SBU's first three hitters, Nina Amaro-Garcia (5), Katrina Munoz (3) and Latasha Baderdeen (2) paired up for 10 RBI. 

SBU took control early, as Munoz and Baderdeen hit back-to-back solo shots in the first inning to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead. UMSL would get the two runs back in the top of the second, but Latasha, along with her sister Krysta Baderdeen, drove in two more runs to re-take the lead. The Baderdeen sisters combined to hit for the cycle between them in the first two innings of the game; Latasha led off the first with a home run, followed by her sister's single to right field, then in the second, Latasha ripped a triple down the right field line and Krysta doubled her home with a shot that stayed just inside the left field line.

From that point forward, the Bearcats just built on their lead as SBU pitcher Karly Bitters held the Tritons to six hits over six innings, and just two earned runs. In the sixth inning, with two outs and an 8-3 lead, Amaro-Garcia ended the game early with a grand slam that cleared the left-center wall to put SBU ahead of the mercy rule, 12-3. 

The second game saw a lot less offense, as Bearcat Josie Rose battled with UMSL's Stephanie Benson inning after inning. Benson put up a great fight, allowing just one run over six innings, and not giving up a single fly ball out on a day where the wind was gusting from right to left field, but it wasn't quite enough. Rose was able to go seven shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just five hits.

SBU scored their lone run in their last trip to the plate, in the sixth. Munoz led off the inning with a double to left center, then advanced to third on Latasha Baderdeen's single that was slapped down the right field line. Munoz scored when Krysta Baderdeen's seeing-eye single got through the infield.

Right fielder BreAnn Proctor quietly had a great day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three runs over the two games. Krysta Baderdeen went 4-for-7 with a pair of RBI and a pair of doubles on the day. Latasha Baderdeen increased her hitting streak to a career and team-high seven games, while Munoz is right behind her, riding a six-game streak.

With the sweep, the Bearcats pull back up to .500, with a 9-9 record. SBU will take the weekend off and prepare for the MIAA Crossover Tournament held at Central Missouri, on Friday-Saturday March 19-20. While the 'Cats will face off against four conference opponents, the games will be considered non-conference games in the MIAA standings. SBU will open the tournament at 2:00 pm against Central Missouri.