Box Score

Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University baseball team picked up a big series opening victory over Northwest Missouri on Thursday afternoon 7-4. With the win the Bearcats improve to 25-11 (15-8 MIAA) on the season.

Northwest Missouri jumped on the scoreboard first in the top half of the first inning before Southwest Baptist struck in the bottom half of the inning. Caleb Sneed led the game off with a single to left field, followed by a single to right center by Chance Wolfe to put runners on the corners. Hunter Hisky then hit an rbi single to left field followed by an rbi fielder's choice from Sean Murley to give SBU a 2-1 lead. After a wild pitch, Jovany Urbieta doubled to center followed by an Andrew Meier single through the left side to give SBU a 4-1 lead.

NWMSU came back in the top of the fifth, plating two runs, and cutting SBU's lead to 4-3. However, the Bearcats quickly responded to extend the lead. In the bottom half of the fifth back-to-back singles from Urbieta and Meier put two runners on before a sacrifice advanced both bases runners up a base. After a Cody Massey walk loaded the bases, Sneed hit a two-rbi single up the middle to extend the SBU lead to 6-3. In the seventh Meier picked up his third hit of the game, an rbi single scoring Nelson Muniz, as SBU took a 7-3 lead. Northwest Missouri tacked on another run in the top half of the ninth, but Southwest Baptist would go on to claim a 7-4 victory.

Brian Womack had a solid day on the mound, throwing 7.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts to pick up the victory. Chance Wolfe earned the one out save, pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. Andrew Meier was a perfect 5-5 on the day, tying him for the second most hits in a single game in SBU history.

SBU will return to action on Friday, April 14 for game two of the three game series against Northwest Missouri. Opening pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. from Dodson Field.