Game 1 | Game 2 | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The SBU Bearcats attempt at a berth into the MIAA Tournament fell short against #9 Emporia State. The 'Cats needed to take both games of a doubleheader to have a shot, but dropped both, 8-1 and 2-0. Krysta Baderdeen went 2-for-3 in both games, scoring SBU's lone run while getting called out at home twice.

The Bearcats hung close with the Hornets early in game one, before a rough seven-run third inning gave Emporia a comfortable lead. The Bearcats were able to get one back in the bottom half of the inning, when an error by the Hornet defense allowed Baderdeen to score.

SBU pitcher Karly Bitters threw in relief, essentially shutting down the Emporia offense, allowing just one run and three hits over four and one-third innings, but ESU was already leading with a large enough margin that the Bearcat comeback attempt fell short. Bitters also pitched three shutout innings in the second game, giving up three hits and striking out two. Bitters improved her ERA by 20 points, from 4.04 at the start of the twinbill, to 3.84.

Nina Amaro-Garcia started off the second game strong, allowing just one hit over the first two innings, but then three singles and an error lead to a pair of runs for the Hornets. Stephanie Sechler limited the damage with a line-out double play, nabbing the runner at second who took off too early. The Bearcats had a number of chances to tie the game, leaving six runners on base, including three in scoring position.

While the 2010 season comes to a close without a postseason appearance, this Bearcat squad re-wrote the history books as well. Seven major school records were tied or broken over the course of the season; Sarah Brison, Amaro-Garcia, and Baderdeen (twice) tied the mark for most home runs in a single game, with two. The season and career home run marks were broken in 2010, as Baderdeen's 11 long balls this year narrowly edged Amaro-Garcia's 10. The former mark of eight was originally set by Lynda Matchell in 1981, and Baderdeen tied it last season. Baderdeen also set the all-time home run record this year, at 22. McKenzie Mortimer held the record heading into this season, with 15, but an early-season injury hindered her chance at adding to her total. Amaro-Garcia ends her Bearcat career with 17 home runs.

Pitcher Josie Rose extended her career strikeout record, ringing up 179 batters, just eight short of the single-season record she set in 2008. Rose now has 559 strikeouts over her three-year career and will look to improve that mark even further in 2011.

As a team, the Bearcats broke three records they set just last season, reaching new highs in runs batted in (180), home runs (35), and stolen bases (74). SBU finishes the season with a 23-32 record, matching last season's win total in fewer games.