Liberty, Mo. – The SBU softball team continued conference play this evening as they traveled to William Jewell University to take on the Cardinals. Ace pitching led the Bearcats to two victories and their first conference road sweep since 2018. They move to 8-20 (2-2 GLVC) already matching their win and conference win total from a year before.
 
Game 1: Win, 1-0
Junior Paige Leithead won the battle of the pitchers in game one of the day pitching a complete game shutout. Her first win of the season came off seven complete innings only allowing four hits and throwing two strikeouts. The Bearcat defense backed up their pitcher making tremendous plays all over the field and going the entire game errorless. Centerfielder Rylee Lunn made one of those plays completing a line out double play with a dart to first base. The Bearcats had eight hits in game one, led by sophomore Margo Frossard with three.
 
Game 2: Win, 5-1 (11 innings)
Sophomore Jenna Daggett had one of the best performances by an SBU pitcher in years, throwing 10 innings. During that time, she threw six strikeouts and only allowed one run. She earned her fifth win of the season while giving the Bearcats their first conference sweep.
 
"I'm so grateful that I had my offense and defense to help us finish the game." Daggett said, "We continued to get stronger as the game went on and kept great momentum in the dugout throughout the game."
 
The Bearcats stayed in the game the entire time trailing by one run heading into the 7^th. A rally that began with Daggett getting on base and a few batters later would come around to score and tie the game at one. A scoreless bottom half of the 7^th sent the two teams into extra innings. Neither team gave an inch for three straight innings causing the game to remain tied at one heading into the 11^th.
 
Southwest Baptist was ready to hit the road as they began the 11^th inning with two straight singles to left field from Rylee Lunn and Daggett. Both would come around to score breaking the tie and giving SBU a two-run lead. Kaitlyn Ragsdale and Frossard each earned an RBI giving SBU an extra four run cushion heading into the bottom half. Daggett was finally relieved near the start of the 11^th after walking the first two batters. Freshman Shalie Wooden stepped up in place of her predecessor recording three straight outs completing the win and earning herself a save.
 
"These girls fought so hard today to stay in the games and give themselves a chance to win." Head Coach Tripp Swisher said, "I'm so proud of them for finding a way to push through. Both games were complete team wins. I love this team! The best is yet to come!"
 
The SBU softball team will return to conference action this Saturday as they host their rivals, the Drury Panthers. The doubleheader conference matchup is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM at the SBU softball field.