Bolivar, Mo- The SBU softball team opened their conference play today as they hosted the Rockhurst Hawks in a double-header. The Bearcats were unable to come up with wins in the doubleheader and fall to 3-12 (0-2 GLVC).
 
Emma Wood took the mound for the Bearcats and struggled to contain the hot bats of Rockhurst early. The Bearcats struggled to get anything going offensively in game 1 only have 3 hits throughout the game. SBU fell in game 1, 0-10.
 
The Bearcats started out strong in game 2, taking a 2-1 lead in the 2^nd and extending that to a 3-1 lead by the 5^th. This lead was behind Reilly Rupert's stellar pitching only allowing one run throughout the first six innings. A three-run homerun by the Hawks in the top of the 7^th gave Rockhurst the win. Despite getting the loss, Rupert struck out 9 batters and only allowed 5 hits throughout the game.
 
Lauren Cook led the Bearcats with a combined three hits throughout the two games. Abby Henson, Alissa Collette, and Renae Gillmore each had two hits on the day. Gillmore tagged along one RBI along with Kennedy Griffin's two.
 
Bearcats will play another double header at home this Wednesday where they take on Northwest Oklahoma State University. Start times are TBD.