Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Bolivar, MO – The Southwest Baptist Bearcats (9-14, 9-10 MIAA) played host to the #5 nationally ranked Central Missouri Mules (18-4, 15-3 MIAA) today in a mid-week conference doubleheader. Although the game was played at Dodson Field, the Bearcats were the away team on the scoreboard. The games were originally scheduled to be played at Central Missouri, but wet field conditions because of recent inclement weather forced the games to Bolivar.
 
Game one began with two scoreless innings before both teams got on the scoreboard in the third. The Bearcats used good, fundamental baseball in jumping out to a 2-0 lead in top half of the frame. Aaron Anderson walked with one out and Landon Young used a sacrifice bunt to move Anderson up to second. Zach Pirrello followed with a two-out RBI bloop single to center field bringing in Anderson. Pirrello promptly stole second base before Bo Helsel lined an RBI single up the middle driving him in. Central Missouri would tack on a run in the bottom of the inning, but Dustin Caplette would limit the damage keeping SBU in the lead after three innings.
 
The Central Missouri Mules threatened again in the fourth inning after two batters reached on consecutive errors by third basemen Spencer Blacksher, but Dustin Caplette would work around the errors striking out the next two batters and forcing a groundout to end the inning. In the bottom of the sixth the Mules tied the game at 2 on an RBI double by John Oropeza.
 
After a scoreless seventh by both teams, the game moved into extra innings. The Bearcats were held scoreless in the top half of the first extra frame and Caplette would come out to mound to try to get the Bearcats another AB. After getting a quick out to start the bottom of the eighth inning, Dustin Caplette surrendered a walk-off solo home run to Kyle Grieshaber winning the game for the Mules by a score of 3-2.
 
Dustin Caplette (3-1) was the hard luck losing pitcher after giving up 3 runs, while striking out 8 and walking only 2 in 7 and 1/3 innings.
 
Jake Heissler (4-0) picked up the win after pitching an inning and a third in relief for the Mules.
 
Game two started much the same as the first, with both teams being held scoreless for the first two innings. The Bearcats again jumped out to an early lead in the third inning after Landon Young hit a solo home run to left field putting SBU up 1-0. UCM loaded the bases on three singles in the inning, but SBU starter Tim Collins worked around the hits and held the Mules scoreless in the inning.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings before Central Missouri would tie the game in the sixth on a Kyle Grieshaber solo home run to LF. Central Missouri would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh but Jacob Sullinger, in relief of Ryan Harralston, forced an inning ending groundout to second base.
 
The teams again went to extra innings after the score was tied at 1 through seven innings. After the first two extra frames went scoreless, the game turned wild and exciting. 
 
In the top of the tenth Zach Pirrello reached first base on an error and Drew Miller singled him to second putting runners on first and second with one out.  Spencer Blacksher and Ross Wolfe followed with back-to-back RBI singles for the Bearcats giving them a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.  After two quick outs, the Mules used a hit batter, a walk, and an RBI double by Seth Wheeler to tie the game.  Jacob Sullinger then struck out a UCM pinch hitter to end the threat.
 
The Bearcats would then erupt for three more runs in the top of the eleventh on an RBI single by Landon Young, an RBI triple by Jarod Robillard, and an RBI seeing-eye single up the middle by Spencer Blacksher to take a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.  Cole Roark came on for the save in the bottom of the inning, but UCM touched him up for 3 runs on 4 hits.  In the inning the Bearcats were able to throw the potential game-winning run out at home.
 
After both teams went down in order in the twelfth, the Bearcats would again put runs on the board in the thirteenth.  Ross Wolfe walked with the bases loaded to bring in the go-ahead run and Bo Helsel raced home on a failed pick-off attempt to second base by UCM to add an insurance run.  In the bottom of the thirteenth Cole Roark (2-1) forced three straight ground ball outs to shortstop picking up the win in relief for the Bearcats. 
 
Tim Collins received a no-decision after pitching 5 and 1/3 innings giving up only one run and striking out 6.
 
Blake Kolons (0-1) was the losing pitcher in game two for the Mules, pitching 2 and 1/3 innings in relief and giving up 3 runs on 4 hits.
 
The Bearcats were led in hitting on the day by Landon Young who went a combined 3 for 7 with a HR and 2 RBIs and Spencer Blacksher who went 3 for 6 and also had 2 RBIs
 
 “Well, if you are a fan of baseball you were probably happy to be at the park today,” Coach Chris Martin said after the game. “I thought both teams really battled.  [UCM] is as good as anyone in the country, so I am proud of our guys for hanging in and battling.  As long as we were still playing we thought we had a chance.  Hopefully we can build on this for the rest of the year.”
 
The Bearcats will be back in action this Friday and Saturday against Fort Hays State University in a 3-game MIAA conference series. On Friday the Bearcats will play a doubleheader with first pitch in game one scheduled for 1pm. Saturday's single game is also scheduled to start at 1pm. Check back this weekend for game updates and live stats at www.sbubearcats.com.