Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Bentonville, Ark. – The Southwest Baptist University softball team picked up two victories in day one of the 8-State Classic from Bentonville, Ark. With the wins SBU improves to 4-2 on the season.

In game one SBU would fall behind 1-0 in the 1st, but would then respond in the 2nd inning. Catlin Evans would get on base with a walk, and then Alexis Dock would double to bring in Evans. Stormy Christerson would single and SBU would take a 2-1 lead. Rockhurst would respond in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 runs and would take a 3-2 lead. In the 5th Kori Hillenburg would get things started by hitting a double, and Jaidyn Mawhinney would get hit by a pitch. Lauren Strobel would hit a 3-run homerun and SBU would regain the lead at 5-3. Dana Graves would get a base hit, followed by walks by Evans and Dock. Christerson would clear the bases with a 3-RBI double and SBU would take an 8-3 lead. Rockhurst would get a run back in the bottom of the 5th and would trail SBU 8-4 after 5 innings. The Bearcats would get a run in the 6th off of a Rockhurst error which would make the score 9-4 SBU. Kacey Ayers-Evans would retire the final three batters and SBU would pick up a 9-4 victory. With the win Ayers-Evans improves to 3-1 on the season.

In game two Hunter Middleton and Claire Miller combined to throw a shutout in SBU's 2-0 win over Ouachita Baptist. Both teams would fail to score in the first two innings, then SBU would get a run in the bottom of the 3rd. Christerson would start the inning with a base hit up the middle following that Hillenburg would reach on a fielder's choice. Hillenburg would steal second and advance to third on a passed ball. Mawhinney would single to third scoring Hillenburg and giving SBU a 1-0 lead. SBU would add on to their lead with a Dock bases loaded walk in the 6th inning. Miller would close the door in the 7th, and SBU would win the game 2-0. Middleton gets the win improving her record to 1-1, and Miller gets her first save as a Bearcat.

The Bearcats will continue play in the 8-State Classic tomorrow when they take on Drury and Fort Hays State. First pitch against Drury is set for 9 a.m.