St. Joseph, Mo. – The Bearcats played game one of their final road series against Missouri Western Friday evening. The Griffons won the game in the bottom of the 9^th, 2-1. The Bearcats move to 16-27 (8-20 MIAA) on the season.
 
Caleb Sneed led off the game with a single through the right side. Hunter Hisky later followed with a single of his own, moving up the 2^nd place all time in the SBU hits column. The next batter, Sam Avila, reached on an infield single where Caleb Sneed attempted to score, but was thrown out at home. Things were quiet into the 3^rd inning, where Missouri Western scored an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Again, the next few innings went by quickly, not much offense generated on either side. Leading off the 7^th was Hunter Hisky, picking up his second hit of the evening. Sam Avila followed with a single up the middle, then the two Bearcat base runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Mathys. Noah Tucker drew a walk to load the bases, and Blake Hobbs picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk to even the score at 1-1.
 
The Griffons mounted some offense in the 8^th inning, getting runners on first and second, but Dalton Morrow got the third out via the strikeout to keep the score knotted at 1-1. Noah Tucker singled with two outs in the 9^th but nothing more would come of that. Missouri Western doubled to lead off the 9^th, then getting runners on first and third with a bunt for hit. SBU intentionally walked the next batter to create a force out at any base. The next batter lined out, but a sacrifice fly ended the game 2-1 in favor of the Griffons.
 
Hunter Hisky and Sam Avila both went 2-4 at the plate, Hisky credited with SBU's one run scored. Dalton Morrow was credited with the loss as he was responsible for the runner that scored in the 9^th inning. He struck out 12 in the loss and walked just 1 batter.
 
Game two of the series is set for 3 PM on Saturday, April 27.