Joplin, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University baseball team collected 18 hits against Missouri Southern on Friday, but lost game one 9-3 and game two 7-4.

In game one Missouri Southern jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead after two, but the Bearcats were able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the third. With two outs in the inning, Tyler Christophel singled to right field and was brought home two batters later on an rbi single from Drew Miller. The Bearcats added another run in the fourth off of an rbi double from Jacob Estes, and another in fifth off of another rbi single from Miller. However Missouri Southern would hold on to their lead and go on to the 9-3 game one victory.

In game two Southwest Baptist was the first to strike with two runs in the top of the fourth. After a Miller single and a Bo Helsel walk, Miller came home off of an error by Missouri Southern to give SBU a 1-0 lead. Jeremiah Bryan then singled up the middle, bringing home Helsel, and putting the Bearcats up 2-0. Missouri Southern then responded with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-2. However, SBU would continue to battle. In the top of the sixth inning SBU got another run off of an rbi single from Brendon Cox, and added another in the seventh off of an rbi sacrifice fly from Miller to pull SBU within two at 6-4. The comeback bid for the Bearcats fell short, as Missouri Southern took game two 7-4.

The Bearcats close out MIAA play on Saturday afternoon with a double-header against Missouri Southern. Opening pitch from Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin is set for 1:00 p.m.