Box Score
Joplin, Mo. – Despite getting out to an early lead, the Southwest Baptist Baseball team could not withstand Missouri Southern's offense as they fell 18-8 in game one of their series with the Lions on Friday night. The Bearcats record now stands at 13-24 (7-17 MIAA).

In a game with tons of scoring from both sides, the two teams had a surprising scoreless 1^st inning. The script shifted though once the 2nd inning rolled around. The Bearcats
grabbed the first lead of the ballgame with a three run top of the 2^nd inning. Clint Jack was responsible for the start of the scoring as he blasted a two-run homer to left center. After Jack's first home run of the season, Patrick Latham walked and moved to 2^nd base on a ground out. After another ground out, Latham came home on a RBI infield single to give SBU a 3-0 advantage.

SBU's lead quickly evaporated though in the bottom of the 2^nd inning as Missouri Southern responded with seven runs on four hits to go up 7-3. In the top of the 3^rd, the Bearcats cut the deficit down to 7-4 on opposite field home run from Carl Schwettmann. The Lions offense used a three-run bottom of the 3^rd inning though to extend the lead out to 10-4 after three innings.

In the top of the 4^th inning, SBU trimmed the Lions lead once again with a run on a Tyler Mathys sacrifice fly that scored Don Roethler. However, Missouri Southern added two more runs in the bottom of the 4^th inning that made the score 12-5 Lions. Despite facing a seven run deficit, the Bearcats continued to fight back. Jack and Latham started the top of the 5^th with a hit by pitch and single that put runners on 1^st and 2^nd with nobody out. Roethler then stepped to the plate and continued his display of power with a three run home run down the left field line that put SBU within four at 12-8. Roethler's home run would be the last of the scoring for the Bearcats as the Lions plated one in the 5^th, two in the 6^th, and three in the 7^th to come away with the 18-8 win.

At the plate for the Bearcats, Mathys, Schwettmann, and Roethler all had multiple hit games. Mathys was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. Schwettmann was 2 for 4 with a home run, double, RBI, and 2 runs scored. Roethler was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Jack also chipped in a hit, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored in the ballgame.

The Bearcats will play game two of their series with Missouri Southern at 1:00 PM at Warren Turner Field in Joplin, Missouri.