GAME 37-38: SBU BEARCATS (13-23, 2-8 MIAA)
vs LINCOLN BLUE TIGERS (5-23, 5-9 HC)
TUESDAY, APRIL 13 • 2:00 PM
SBU SOFTBALL FIELD • BOLIVAR, MO

G39-44: SBU BEARCATS at MIAA NORTHERN CROSSOVER TOURNAMENT (at NWMSU)
THURSDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 15-17
BEARCAT SOFTBALL FIELD • MARYVILLE, MO

SBU NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. – With a win to cap off the first half of the MIAA schedule, the SBU Bearcats are in good shape to work their way into the MIAA Tournament next month. SBU currently sits in tenth in the MIAA standings, just two games behind the eighth and final spot to earn a berth into the postseason. However, this week is an opportune time for the 'Cats to see how they stack up against the rest of the competition as they head to Northwest Missouri for the second of two MIAA Crossover Tournaments. SBU will face off against six different conference opponents, however, none of the games will count in the conference standings. Before they head north, however, the Bearcats will host future MIAA member Lincoln for a mid-week doubleheader.

Krysta Baderdeen has heated up over the two weeks, returning to last season's form as the team leader in batting average (.404). Baderdeen also leads the team in doubles (7) and will take an 11-game hitting streak into this weeks' games, the second-longest streak of the season, behind only her sister Latasha's 12-game streak earlier this year. Krysta's rise has come at the right time, with the loss in the past month of several starting position players to injury.

Nina Amaro-Garcia is looking to becoming a key player for the Bearcats' stretch run into the playoffs. Amaro-Garcia went 3-for-3 in the second game against Truman, including a two-run shot that put the game into run-rule territory and gave SBU an 8-0 victory. Amaro-Garcia leads with six home runs on the season, and with the seven long balls she had last year, sits just two behind the SBU all-time home run record. Of course, it might be harder than that for the senior pitcher/first baseman to break the mark; the current record-holder-- Krysta Baderdeen, who is still in her junior season.
   
ABOUT THE COACHES
Christy Capner returned to her alma mater before the 2007 season as she was named head coach of the Bearcats. Capner has seen six All-MIAA awards given out to her players over the last three seasons, and has seen steady improvement, going from eight wins in 2007, to 23 last year. 

Nicole Stacey is in her first season as head coach of the Blue Tigers, where she has seen steady improvement throughout the season. Stacey was previously head coach at D-III Westminster College, where for three seasons her teams improved their win total, and set a new school mark for conference wins.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Brenda Siegler leads Lincoln offensively, posting a .316 average and a team-high 17 RBI. Jessica Moore is tied for the team high in hits, with 24, and has 10 steals.

The Bearcats will face off against a number of conference foes at the MIAA Crossover Tournament. Tied for the home run lead, Washburn's Tish Williams will be a tough out in the tournament's final game. Treightin Yates (.451) is in the midst of a batting title race for Nebraska-Omaha. The duo of Adrian Mohr (30) and Maddie Holub (29) rank second and fifth on the RBI list for Fort Hays. Truman's Alex Weber has swiped 18 bases, just one behind the league leader. The Bearcats could also face a pair of pitchers with an ERA under two, in Omaha's Lindsey Slocum (1.80) and Truman's Richelle vanGennip (1.86).


NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats will host three teams next week, starting with a mid-week matchup with Missouri S&T. The Miners will be looking for a bit of payback after Josie Rose threw a no-hitter against them late in 2009. Then it's back to the MIAA grind, as SBU faces off against two of the better teams in the league in Washburn and league leaders Emporia State. The Hornets are currently owners of a 20-game win streak that could reach 30 by the time they get to Bolivar. Washburn has won seven of its last nine and sit fifth in the MIAA standings at 6-5.