Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats defeated the Truman State Bulldogs in game two of the double-header Friday afternoon, 2-1. The Bearcats had excellent pitching on the day from Josie Rose and Karly Bitters, and had solid hitting behind Rhiannon Mendez.

Rose took the circle for the Bearcats in game two of the double-header and pitched extremely well.  Rose went 5 innings, giving up one run on only three hits while striking out six, with at least one strikeout in every inning. SBU was locked in a pitchers dual until the bottom of the fourth inning. BreAnn Proctor lead off the inning with a bunt single, followed by a fielder's choice by Jenna Niffen. Mendez blasted a double to the wall in right center, advacing Niffen to third. Bitters hit a sacrafice fly to bring home Niffen, with Sarah Brison singling home Mendez to put SBU up 2-0. Truman State responded in the top of the fifth, scoring one run, but Rose was able to get out of the inning with the lead. Karly Bitters came on and shut down the Bulldogs for the final two innings to record her first save on the season. SBU pitching held Truman to only 4 hits in the second game of the double-header.

In game one, Karly Bitters was in the circle for the Bearcats.  SBU got on the scoreboard first, knocking home one run in the bottom of the first off of an rbi single by Bitters.  Truman State responded, and tied up the ballgame in the top of the second. Bitters would then take over the game, shutting down the Bulldogs for the next five innings, and forcing extra innings. She pitched an excellent game, keeping the score tied 1-1 through the seventh inning. However, the Bulldogs pulled away in extra innings, scoring six in the top of the eighth. Mendez responded in the bottom half of the eighth, blasting a two-run homerun, but it wasn't enough as Truman defeated SBU 7-3.

SBU remains at home for a match-up against Lincoln University on Saturday, April 2 in Bolivar. First pitch of the double-header is set for 2:00 p.m. from the SBU Softball Field.