Game one | Game two | Season stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The baseball Bearcats struggled to get runners across the plate in a pair of games against the Missouri Western Griffons, as they fell in both games to open a four-game set, 4-2 and 8-0. Third baseman Justin Barnhart and left fielder Paden Grubbs each had key runs in the opening game to pull even with Western early in the matchup, but the Griffons were able to put up two in the sixth inning and close the door to win the seven-inning contest.

The Bearcats couldn't quite find the big hit when needed, as they left runners in scoring position in the first, second and sixth innings of game one. Steven Davis and Taylor Trotter each drove in a run off a pair of singles, Davis bringing in Barnhart to tie the game 1-1 in the first, while Trotter knocked home Grubbs to even the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third.

A pair of walks to lead off the sixth inning put the SBU pitching staff in hot water, and after an error allowed the Griffons to take the lead, the Missouri Western pitcher was able to finish off SBU and secure the win.

The Bearcat offense wasn't able to gain any momentum in the second game, and were able to collect only five hits in the nine-inning affair. Davis went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, but was unable to start a rally, as Missouri Western punched out 15 Bearcats throughout the game.

SBU (2-11, 1-5 MIAA) and Missouri Western finish out the series tomorrow, March 6, with a doubleheader starting at noon.