Game Notes (PDF)

Date: March 11, 2020
Times: 1 PM / 3 PM
Location: Bolivar, MO

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Softball team returns home for their second home series this season, playing host to former MIAA opponents Lincoln University. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 1 PM with the second game following shortly after. 

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats are off to a 5-12 start this season. After falling to 1-11 to begin the year, the Bearcats won 4 straight at the Drury Invitational before dropping the final game of the tournament. The Bearcats have beaten Emporia State, Northeastern State twice, Lincoln, and Wayne State. Nya Morgan leads the team with a .333 batting average through 12 games. Sam Moran has started all 17 games and is hitting .317. Moran leads the team in on-base percentage thanks to her 17 walks as well. Senior transfer Aubry Hernandez has 14 hits this season, 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 homerun. She has driven in 10 runs this season. Alexis Dock has a 3.16 ERA on the season, leading the team. She has 25 strikeouts and is allwoing opponents a .254 average.

The team is coming off an 8-47 (4-22 MIAA) finish last season. SBU has made the transition from the MIAA to the GLVC, upping the conference numbers from 14 teams to 16 teams. Last year, the Bearcats played a number of GLVC teams, including a sweep of Missouri S&T 4-0 and 3-2. The team also had a 5-1 win against Drury. Returning for the Bearcats on the mound will be seniors Maddie Massanelli and Alexis Dock. Last season, Massanelli pitched 146.2 innings, striking out 91 in the process. Alexis Dock threw 38.0 innings last season, striking out 21 with an ERA of 4.97. The offensive leadership will begin with Megan Schellert, a 3-year starter thus far. Last year, Schellert led the team with a .292 average, starting all 55 games. She picked up 49 hits with 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 11 RBI. Sam Moran, Paige St. Pierre, and Morgan McMullin also look to help jump start the offense. The team is also surrounded by quite a few new faces.

SCOUTING THE BLUE TIGERS
The Lincoln Blue Tigers come into Wednesday's matchup with a 6-10 (0-4 MIAA) record. They began the year 4-0 before dropping all four games at the Drury Invitational. One of those losses was against SBU, 3-7. Since the tournament, Lincoln fell twice to Lindenwood, swept William Jewell, and is currently on a four game losing streak. They play against Missouri S&T Tuesday afternoon before traveling to Bolivar. Emily Williams is hitting .349 on the season with 4 doubles and 8 runs scored. Kendra Holt leads the team in RBIs, as she has driven in 12 runs for the Blue Tigers. Tressa Hughes has pitched 33.0 innings for Lincoln, surrendering 32 earned runs for a 6.79 ERA. She also leads the team in strikeouts with 32. The teams met last weekend, where SBU defeated Lincoln 7-3. Hughes surrendered 5 earned runs in the loss.