Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University baseball team opened up their 2016 season with a double-header split against Winona State on Friday afternoon. At the conclusion of the day, SBU stands at 1-1 on the season.

In game one the Bearcats kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Jeff Bouchard led the inning off with a double to right center, followed by walks from Chance Wolfe and Trevor Bowling to load the bases. With one out in the inning, Caleb Sneed was hit by a pitch, bringing home Wolfe, followed by a bases clearing double from Christian Binger to put SBU on top 4-0.

SBU added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning when Bowling hit an rbi single through the left side, scoring Bouchard, putting the Bearcats up 5-0. Winona State responded with three runs in the top of the six, putting SBU up 5-3, before the Bearcats answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Binger led the inning off with a walk, stole second, and came home on an rbi double from Sean Murley. Hunter Hisky then singled through the right side, scoring Murley, followed by an rbi double from Bouchard. SBU scored their final run of the game off of a WSU wild pitch, as SBU would cruise to a 9-3 game one victory. On the mound Miles Kilgore earned the victory, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs to go along with 6 strikeouts, while Calvin Lovig pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the save.

In game two SBU jumped ahead early in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Wolfe drew a walk, followed by a two-run homerun to left field by Bowling to put SBU up 2-0. The Bearcats added another run in the third on an rbi groundout from Murley, as SBU held a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth. Winona State responded with 6 unanswered runs, as SBU trailed 6-3, before the Bearcats got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homerun from Murley. However, in the end the Bearcats would fall 9-4.

SBU will return to action on Saturday, February 13 when they host Winona State in the final game of the series. Opening pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. from Dodson Field in Bolivar.