Box Score Bolivar, Mo. – In a back and forth affair, the Missouri Western Griffons claimed a one-run victory of 11-10 in game 1 of the series against the Southwest Baptist Baseball team.

The Griffons struck first with single runs in the top of the 1^st and 2^nd to grab an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 3^rd, Tyler Mathys and Hunter Hisky started the inning with back-to-back walks. However, a thunderstorm moved in after Hisky's at bat, delaying the game for an hour. When play resumed, Carl Schwettmann grounded into a double play, but the Bearcats did not come away empty handed as Clint Jack drove an RBI single to right center to bring home Mathys and make the score 2-1 Griffons.

The two teams remained scoreless until the 6^th inning when both teams had big scoring innings. The Griffons started it off with three unearned runs in the top of 6^th. A couple Bearcat miscues allowed Missouri Western to score their runs via an RBI single and two run homerun. Staring at a 5-1 deficit, SBU would not be deterred in the bottom of the 6^th. Schwettmann started the inning with a walk and Jack hit a double, putting runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. After a strikeout, Jackson Mueller singled to right center to bring home Schwettmann and Jack and trim the Griffons lead to 5-3. With two outs and two on, Noah Tucker tied the game up at 5-5 with a double to left center field. Mathys immediately followed with an RBI single to send home Tucker and give the Bearcats their first lead of the game of 6-5. Hisky capped off the inning with a two run homer that snuck over the wall in left and extend SBU's advantage to 8-5. All in all, the Bearcats sent 10 batters to the plate and scored 7 runs on 5 hits in the inning.

After a scoreless top of the 7^th, SBU added one more to their tally as Don Roethler hit a solo home run to left field to make the score 9-5 Bearcats. In the top of the 8^th, the Griffons responded with 4 runs to tie the score at 9-9. The Griffons used 3 hits and capitalized on 2 Bearcat errors to score their 4 runs. Missouri Western took a 2 run lead, 11-9, in the top of the 9^th behind a solo home run and RBI ground rule double.

Facing a two run deficit, the Bearcats sought to generate another comeback. With one out, Jack singled and Roethler doubled to put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. Mueller followed with an RBI fielder's choice that sent Jack home but Roethler was thrown at 3^rd trying to advance. Missouri Western got the final Bearcat batter swinging to claim the 11-10 win. Mitchell Stemerdink was saddled with the loss (1-1) while Nate Hunter (5-2) picked up the win.

SBU starting pitcher Blake Deatherage was solid in 5 innings of work. He fanned 7 batters, and allowed just 4 hits, 1 earned run, and 3 walks. Jack, Roethler, and Tucker all had big days at the plate for the Bearcats. Jack finished 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Roethler collected 2 extra base hits in 5 at bats to go along with an RBI and run scored. Out of the nine hole, Tucker was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.

The Bearcats and Griffons will play game two of their three game set tomorrow at 2:00 PM from Dodson Field in Bolivar, Missouri.