Bentonville, Ar. - The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats softball team opened up their season this past weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Bearcats went 1-3 on the road trip, but were able to secure a 4-2 victory over Missouri S&T in the final game of their road trip.

In the first game, SBU took on Henderson State.  Henderson State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first, while adding two more in the second, and three more in the third.  With SBU down 7-0 going into the fifth, sophomore Latasha Baderdeen picked up where she left off last season by hitting a homerun, giving SBU it's first run of the season.  Henderson State added two more in the sixth, ending the game with the final score of 9-1.

SBU played a hard fought battle in the second game of the weekend when they took on University of Missouri-St. Louis.  SBU fell just short of UMSL, 3-5, with an excellent performance at the plate by junior Rhiannon Mendez, who went two for three with a home run and two runs scored.

The third game of the weekend featured the most offense of the weekend, with SBU falling 9-13 to University of Illinois at Springfield. Senior Krysta Baderdeen lead the way for the Bearcats, going two for three with a home run, double, and four RBI.  Following Krysta Baderdeen's home run in the third, sister Latasha Baderdeen doubled in the fourth two drive home two Bearcats.  Latasha Baderdeen finished the game going two for four, with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored.

In the final game of the weekend, the Bearcats saw timely offense, and great pitching to propel them to a 4-2 victory over Missouri S&T.  Missouri S&T struck in the third, scoring two runs, but SBU pitching would then shut down the offense for good. SBU responded in the third, with a three-run home run by senior Krysta Baderdeen.  Freshman Latasha Baderdeen homered in the 7th, helping give SBU a 4-2 victory.

Next up for the SBU softball team is a trip home where they will host Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Friday March 4 and Saturday March 5.  Both days will be double headers, with opening pitch at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.