Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Oklahoma City, Okla. - The Southwest Baptist University softball team used a 3-1 victory over 5th seeded Northeastern State on Thursday to advance in the MIAA Postseason Tournament. The Bearcats fell in game one against top seeded Missouri Western 2-1 earlier in the day.

In SBU's 3-1 win over Northeastern State, the RiverHawks struck first in the top of the first. NSU took a 1-0 lead, and loaded the bases with no outs in the first. However, starting pitcher Hunter Middleton forced a fielder's choice groundout before a double play ended the inning with SBU trailing 1-0. The Bearcats got the run back in the bottom half of the first, tying the game at 1-1. Rachel Ray led the inning off with a bunt single, followed by a fielder's choice by Catlin Evans to put runners on first and second. After a double steal Kaley Hansen hit an rbi single through the left side.

After the first, Middleton settled down and allowed only two hits over the next four innings as the Bearcats and RiverHawks remained tied at 1-1. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Ray singled to third base followed by an NSU error which scored Ray and place Evans on third. An rbi groundout from Hansen gave the Bearcats a 3-1 lead after five innings of play. Kacey Ayers came in relief of Middleton, and threw 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the save in SBU's 3-1 victory.

In the first game of the day, Missouri Western scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats threatened in the second and third, putting runners on scoring position, but still trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth. In the top of the fifth Kori Hillenburg led the inning off with an infield single, followed two batters later by an Evans single to left field. Hansen threw drew a walk, loading the bases, before Dana Graves was hit by a pitch to tie the game at 1-1. However, Missouri Western would add a run in the bottom of the sixth as SBU fell 2-1.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, April 29 when they play Northwest Missouri in an elimination game from Oklahoma City. Opening pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. on Field 4.