Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Bolivar, MO – The SBU Bearcats (18-21, 16-15 MIAA) hosted the Lincoln Blue Tigers (5-28, 4-24 MIAA) in an MIAA conference doubleheader today. The games, originally scheduled to be played at Lincoln, were moved to SBU's Dodson Field because of wet field conditions in Jefferson City. Even though the games were played in Bolivar, Lincoln was the home team on the scoreboard.
 
Lincoln jumped out to a 4-0 lead on six hits and two Bearcat errors in the game's first two innings. The Bearcats, though, answered back with a vengeance in the top of the third scoring six runs, bringing 10 batters to the plate in the inning. Landon Young and Christian Binger led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Spencer Blacksher followed with a walk before Bo Helsel swatted a single to deep right bringing in the Bearcats' first run. Drew Miller followed with a grand slam, his 3rd home run of the year, putting SBU in the lead. After Ross Wolfe lined a triple off the right-center field wall, Kyle Jochems brought him in with RBI groundout to shortstop pushing the lead to 6-4. In the bottom of the third, Lincoln would get a run back on a solo homerun by Brad Wright making it 6-5 after three full innings.
 
In the fourth inning, the Bearcats continued to pile on runs. Christian Binger walked to lead off the inning and after a Spencer Blacksher strikeout, Bo Helsel ripped a single to right field putting runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Drew Miller popped up to second before Ross Wolfe blasted his 3rd home run of the year to right center extending the Bearcats' lead to 9-5.
 
In the fifth inning, SBU again added runs to the scoreboard. Landon Young led off the inning with a single to left field before Spencer Blacksher brought him home with an RBI triple to right-center. Bo Helsel followed with a sac fly to center field pushing SBU's lead to 11-5 after five innings.
 
After a scoreless 6th inning, the Bearcats jumped on Lincoln pitching again scoring two more runs. Bo Helsel brought in a run after reaching base on an error by the Lincoln shortstop and Drew Miller followed with an RBI single up the middle. SBU would hold on in the bottom of the 7th and win by a final score of 13-5.
 
Tim Collins (2-1) secured the win pitching a complete game allowing 5 runs on 10 hits. Collins struck out 6 and only walked 1.
 
Nathan Lueckenhoff (1-2) picked up the loss for Lincoln allowing 6 runs on 6 hits in 2 innings.
 
In Game 2, SBU picked up where it left off in the first game scoring 3 runs in the first. Landon Young led off the game with an infield single and then stole second base. Spencer Blacksher followed with an RBI single up the middle bringing in Young. Bo Helsel then dropped a single into centerfield and Drew Miller added an RBI double bringing in both runners making it 3-0 after the first half inning. In the bottom of the first, Lincoln would tie the game at 3 after the first five batters reached base against SBU starter Cole Roark. Roark limited the damage, however, striking out two and leaving the bases loaded in the inning.
 
After a scoreless second by both teams, Lincoln would take a temporary lead in the bottom of the third on a homerun by Colby Shepherd. In the top of the fourth, however, the Bearcats broke the game open scoring 5 runs on 6 hits including 3 home runs. Kyle Jochems led off the inning with his 6th home run of the year tying the game. After two quick outs, Landon Young kept the inning alive by doubling to left center. Christian Binger and Spencer Blacksher then followed with back-to-back homeruns to left pushing the lead to 7-4. Bo Helsel then hit a double to left and Drew Miller reached on an error caused by creative baserunning on the part Helsel. Ross Wolfe then lined a single up the middle extending SBU's lead to 8-4. In the bottom of the fourth, Lincoln loaded the bases on Roark, before Jacob Sullinger came on in relief and coaxed a line-drive double play and a flyout to right field holding the Blue Tigers scoreless in the inning.
 
Both teams were scoreless in the 5th inning before Lincoln would tack on a run in the bottom of the 6th on four singles. Bo Helsel made a highlight reel catch running into the wall in left field to secure the final out of the inning after Zack Winchester came on in relief with two outs.
 
In the top of the seventh the SBU bats got after it again. After a walk to Jochems, Lincoln forced two quick outs. Young then walked putting runners on first and second before Christian Binger drove an RBI double to left field bringing in both runners. Spencer Blacksher promptly followed with an RBI single up the middle bringing in Binger. Bo Helsel continued the inning with a single to right field. After two wild pitches by Lincoln, Blacksher scored before Drew Miller walked. Ross Wolfe then lined a triple down the right field line driving in Helsel and Miller making the score 14-5 after seven innings.
 
The Bearcats shut down the Blue Tigers the rest of the way securing the win 14-5.
 
Jacob Sullinger (2-2) picked up the win in relief of Roark in Game 2. Sullinger pitched well in relief giving up 5 hits and only allowing one run in 2 2/3 innings.
 
Scott Jones (2-7) took the loss for the Blue Tigers. He gave up 8 runs (7 ER) on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
 
The Bearcats were led offensively on the day by Ross Wolfe who was 5 for 11 with 2 triples, a homerun and 6 RBI on the day.  Bo Helsel went 5 for 10 on the day with 5 runs scored and 2 RBI.  As a team the Bearcats hit 5 home runs in the double header.
 
With the two MIAA conference wins today the Bearcats set a new school-record for conference wins. The 2000 and 2012 baseball teams held the previous record with 14 conference wins.
 
“I'm happy for our guys,” Coach Chris Martin said after the games. “To be able to play for something late into April is rewarding for the amount of time we have put in this year.   There were a lot of times our guys could have folded, but they have hung in and battled and given themselves a chance.”
 
The Bearcats will be back in action this weekend against Missouri Southern State University. There will be a single game played Friday, with Senior Day set for Saturday's doubleheader. First pitch on Friday is set for 3:00pm with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled to start at 1:00pm.