Game one | Game two | Season stats

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The SBU softball Bearcats picked up two big wins in their late season push for a berth in the MIAA Tournament, as they beat Northwest Missouri 3-2 and 7-5.

In the opener, the purple Bearcats broke on top on Devon McNeal's solo blast in the fourth. NWMSU responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. SBU rallied behind solo homers from Katrina Munoz in the fifth and Nina Amaro-Garcia in the sixth.

Amaro-Garcia, Munoz and Stacie Davis each had two hits for SBU while Josie Rose picked her 15th win of the year, out-pitching Northwest's Jenna Creger. Rose struck out eight in seven innings while allowing five hits, two runs and two walks. Erin Leslie had two hits including a homer for NWMSU.

Munoz and Sarah Brison each homered in the second game, as SBU won 7-5. Stephanie Sechler singled to bring home Munoz and BreAnn Proctor's sac bunt scored Davis in the third inning. Brison homered to lead off the fourth inning before NWMSU scored twice in their half. SBU upped their lead in the fifth on Amaro-Garcia's two-run single. Northwest cut the margin to 5-4 with two runs in their fifth.

SBU increased their lead in the sixth on Munoz's two-run blast. Northwest got a run in the last inning but it wasn't enough. SBU seniors Amaro-Garcia and Munoz each had two hits and two RBI.

The SBU Bearcats improved to 23-30 overall and 6-12 in the MIAA while Northwest Missouri dropped to 22-20 and 6-9 in the MIAA. SBU is one of five teams in a battle for the sixth through eighth spots in the league standings. SBU needs two wins and help from other teams Tuesday when they host league leading Emporia State at 2 p.m. ESU is currently in a battle with Nebraska-Omaha for the top spot.