Springfield, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University softball team played two close games against 19th ranked NAIA Evangel on Tuesday night in Springfield, but lost the first game 0-1 and the second 3-5.

In game one Jessica Colliver was in the circle for the Bearcats, as she continued her impressive string of starts. Colliver allowed only 1 run off of 4 hits in another complete game effort for SBU. The Bearcats failed to give her run support in game one, as SBU dropped the game 1-0.

In the second game of the double-header Evangel jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before the Bearcats got a run back in the top of the 4th. Kassy Williamson led off the inning with an infield single, and eventually came home off of an rbi single by Alexa Harvey. The Crusaders responded with a run of their own, but SBU was quick to answer. In the top of the 5th inning Rhiannon Mendez led off the inning with a single, and was brought home three batters later off of an rbi double from Williamson, pulling SBU within 1. Evangel added two more in the sixth to push their lead to 5-2. In the top of the 7th inning Mendez hit a solo homerun to left field, but it wasn't enough as Evangel went on to a 5-3 victory.

The Bearcats will return to MIAA action on Friday, April 6 when they travel to Northwest Missouri State. The double-header is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. from Maryville, Missouri.