Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University softball team split a double-header against Missouri Western, giving them their first MIAA loss on the season, with a 4-1 game one victory before falling 14-6 in game two. At the conclusion of the day SBU now stands at 11-15 (4-4 MIAA) on the season.

In game one the Bearcats jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Catlin Evans led the inning off with a single up the middle, followed by an infield single by Rachel Ray coupled with a MWSU error to put runners on second and third. Caitlyn Cooner then successfully completed a suicide squeeze, scoring Evans and giving SBU a 1-0 lead.

The Bearcats added to their lead in the fourth with a leadoff walk by Cooner followed by a Kaley Henson single down the left field line. Kelcee Welch had a sacrifice bunt, advance both runners, before an rbi groundout by Stef Lischke put SBU ahead 2-0. Missouri Western responded with run in the top of the fifth, but the Bearcats bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning. Kori Hillenburg led the inning off with a double to left field followed by an Evans walk and Ray sacrifice bunt. Hillenburg then stole home, extending the lead to 3-1, before a sacrifice fly from Dana Graves gave SBU a 4-1 lead. Kacey Ayers pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game as SBU claimed the 4-1 game one victory.

In game two SBU once again found success in the bottom half of the first inning. Evans led the inning off with a single up the middle, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Ray, before Dana Graves blasted a two-run homerun to left field to put SBU on top 2-0. The Griffons responded with five runs over the next two innings, but SBU continued to fight.

Ray led the bottom of the third off with a bunt single before Graves hit her second two-run homerun of the afternoon as SBU trailed 5-4. After a scoreless third by the Griffons, SBU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Yezzania Gonzalez led the inning off with a double to left field, followed by an infield single from Kori Hillenburg and a sacrifice fly from Evans to knot the score at 5-5. However, Missouri Western would score nine runs over the next three innings and despite a Cooner solo homerun in the seventh SBU would fall 14-6.

The Bearcats will return to action on Monday, March 14 when they host Missouri Southern. Opening pitch of game one of the double-header is set for 1:00 p.m. from the SBU Softball Field in Bolivar.