Bolivar, Mo. – The Maryville University Saints visited Bolivar for a non-conference matchup Wednesday afternoon. Next season, the matchup will be a conference matchup with the Saints coming from the GLVC. Maryville took game 1 of the series, moving SBU's record to 3-4 (0-0 MIAA).
 
The Saints came out with hot bats in the first inning, scoring 5, but the Bearcats responded loudly. Caleb Sneed singled to lead off the bottom of the first, and advanced to second on a ground out. Hunter Hisky then drew a walk, and Trevor Lofstrom reached on a hit by pitch. They would all be driven in by a Carl Schwettmann triple to right center. Tyler Mathys was the next batter, reaching on an error by the third baseman. Blake Hobbs then hit a three-run home run to give SBU a 6-5 lead in the first. Later in the inning, Hunter Hisky drove in Blake Lutgen on a single to right field.
 
Maryville answered with four more runs in the 2^nd. Brett Mitchell was able to drive in another run for the Bearcats in their half of the 2^nd, but they trailed 9-8. The visitors kept up their offensive threat, scoring another in the third. Carl Schwettmann drove in another in the third inning, making the score 10-9. In the fourth inning, the Saints stretched their one run lead to six, taking a 15-9 lead.
 
Going into the bottom of the 6^th, Maryville had a 19-9 lead. Carl Schwettmann doubled to lead off the inning. With one out, Blake Hobbs tripled, driving in Schwettmann. Blake Lutgen drove in Blake Hobbs on a groundout to the pitcher, creating a 19-11 score going into the 7^th. The Saints kept up their strong offensive day, scoring 5 more runs to make a final score of 24-11.
 
Caleb Sneed and Carl Schwettmann both went 4-5 on the day. Schwettmann had 4 RBIs and finished just shy of the cycle, missing the home run leg. Blake Hobbs also went 2-4 on the day, hitting a triple and a home run helping collect 4 RBIs.
 
The Bearcats finish the series with the Saints on Thursday, February 14^th in a double header starting at 11:00 AM.