Bentonville, Ark. – The SBU Softball team picked up their first victory of the season after a 1-1 day at the Bentonville Tournament. In game one of the day, the Central Missouri Jennies defeated SBU 9-1. SBU bounced back with a 5-4 win over Emporia State, improving to 1-8 (0-0 GLVC) on the year.
 
Game One
Megan Schellert led off the game with a single, making it all the way to third in the inning, but was unable to make it home. The Jennies got on the board first, taking a 3-0 lead after three innings. It was Nya Morgan who scored SBU's only run, launching a homerun in the 4^th inning with two outs. The Bearcats got runners to second and third in the 5^th, but nothing would come of the threat. The game was concluded in the 6^th inning, as UCM scored 6 more runs, ending 9-1 via the run rule.
 
Out of SBU's 5 hits, Nya Morgan was responsible for 2 of those, and SBU's RBI. Maddie Massanelli walked just 1 batter and struck out 4 in the loss.
 
Game Two
After a quiet first inning, SBU jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Aubry Hernandez led off the inning with a single, followed by a Nya Morgan walk. Janessa Rivera loaded the bases as she reached on an error. The Hornets nearly got out of the inning after getting two outs, but Renae Gillmore came up clutch with a 2 RBI single to left field. ESU didn't let that bother them, as they evened the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the 2^nd.
 
With one out in the third inning, Sam Moran drew a walk, and later scored on a Nya Morgan single to center field. SBU built on their lead in the fourth inning, as Sam Moran drove in Megan Schellert on on a single to right, 4-2 Bearcats. Emporia State rallied late in the game, tying things up a 4-4 in the bottom of the 6^th. SBU played phenomenal small ball to take the lead in the seventh, 5-4. Nya Morgan drew a leadoff walk and Taryn Elia pinch ran for her. Janessa Rivera successfully put down a sacrifice bunt to move Elia all the way to third. Morgan McMullin followed with a bunt single of her own, scoring Elia for the lead. Solid defense closed out the game and helped seal the 5-4 victory.
 
The Bearcats out-hit the Hornets 9-7 with a multi-hit game from Aubry Hernandez and Renae Gillmore. Nya Morgan reached base all 4 of her at-bats, going 1-1 with 3 walks and an RBI. Emma Wood received the win, pitching all 7.0 innings.
 
The team hosts Wayne State for their home opener tomorrow, Monday, February 17 at 11 AM / 1 PM.