Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcat Baseball team opened up their 2011 season with a double header against Upper Iowa in Bolivar.  SBU dropped the first game 3-4, but came away with a 7-3 victory in the second game of the double header.  "It was a good start to the season, even though we wanted to win both games" coach Berg commented after the games.

In game one, Upper Iowa started off hot, scoring a run in each of the first two innings and adding two more in the fourth. SBU was able to fight back in the fifth inning when they scored three runs off of three hits and a walk.  The Bearcats would threaten to tie in the bottom of the seventh, but ended up leaving a runner stranded on third. "I thought we were a little tentative in our at bats during the first game," head coach Sam Berg stated. "Upper Iowa threw their best pitcher at us and he did a good job.  We had a few chances late and didn't get the clutch hit we needed."

SBU was able to fight back in the second game of the double header, and came away with a 7-3 victory.  Josh Brock pitched a strong five innings to pick up the victory, while Phillip Davolt pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings to pick up the save. "Josh Brock pitched a great five innings and Phillip Davolt did a great job at the end of the game," coach Berg commented.

The Bearcats were able to strike first when Paden Grubbs hit a sacrafice fly in the first to drive home Nigel Morton.  SBU was able to add two more in the second off a double by Brendon Cox, and a single by Landon Young.  Tyler Christophel tripled in the fourth to bring home Morton, and Grubbs homered in the fifth to push the lead to 5-1.  Upper Iowa scored two in the seventh, but the Bearcats responded by scoring two in eighth off of another triple by Christophel.  "In the second game I thought we were more aggressive at the plate.  We were swinging at better pitches and we hit the ball well," coach Berg commented.

SBU will resume action when they host Nebraska-Omaha on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5.  Both days will feature double headers, which have an opening pitch at 12:00 p.m.