Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University baseball team picked up their first MIAA victory of the season in an 11-2 victory over Missouri Western on Friday afternoon. With the win the Bearcats improve to 5-7 (1-4 MIAA) on the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Griffons were the first to strike in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead. Heading into the bottom of the fourth in a 1-0 game, SBU exploded for six runs, taking a 6-1 lead. Sean Murley led the inning off with a double to right center, and after back-to-back outs, Carter Sherban drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Trevor Bowling then hit an rbi single to tie the game at 1-1, followed an rbi single by Cody Massey. Hunter Hisky and Caleb Sneed hit back-to-back doubles, extending the SBU lead to 5-1, before a Christian Binger rbi single to center field gave the Bearcats a 6-1 lead.

After a 1-2-3 inning by the Griffons, SBU once again struck in the bottom of the fifth. Jeff Bouchard led the inning off getting hit by a pitch, followed by Chance Wolfe reaching on a MWSU error. Sherban singled through the right side, scoring Bouchard, and a sacrifice bunt by Bowling put runners on second and third with one out. Massey then hit a two-rbi double to center field, extending SBU's lead to 9-1. After a Massey stolen base, Hunter Hisky hit an rbi single down the right field line to put SBU ahead 10-1. Back-to-back singles from Sneed and Binger loaded the bases for Murley who hit an rbi single to centerfield to extend the Bearcats' lead to 11-1. Missouri Western got one run back in the top of the sixth, but the SBU rolled through the final three innings to claim the 11-2 victory.

SBU will be back in action on Saturday, March 5 when they host Missouri Western in the final game of the series. Opening pitch set for 1:00 p.m. from Dodson Field in Bolivar.