Branson, MO.- The SBU Women's Softball team returned to action after a 16-day break winning both games on the first day of the Turf's Up Invitational Tournament on Monday. They beat the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP) 16-1 and defeated William Woods University 7-4. This puts them to be 4-6 for the season.
 
Game 1 vs UHSP: W, 16-1
The Bearcats won the first game against UHSP with ease. Starting off strong SBU went on a 7-0 run in the first and second inning. The Eutectics scored their first and last run in the second inning. The Bearcats answered back with a three-run home run by Lexi Detwiler bringing the score to 11-1 in the third inning. In the same inning a single homer was hit by Audrey Rahlmann continuing to separate themselves from the Eutectics. SBU only played two more innings until the fifth, when UHSP was run-ruled 16-1 to end the game. In comparison to their opponents SBU had double the amount of hits (14-7) and had a zero-error game in the field. The pitchers for the game were Shalie Wooden (3.0 IP) only allowing one run, and Lindsey Essary (2.0 IP) combining for six strikeouts, with Essary getting the win.
 
Game 2 vs William Woods: W, 7-4
SBU also was successful in their second game of the day, beating William Woods with a comeback victory. It was a slow start for both teams until the Owls scored the first run of the game in the third inning. However, by the bottom of the same inning SBU bounced back making it 2-1 with Kate McConville taking advantage of errors made by their opponents and a double hit by Rahlmann scoring another. With numerous lead changes, the Owls held a 4-2 lead until the Bearcats went on a 5-0 run from the fifth inning to the sixth, preventing the Owls from scoring anything after the fourth inning.
 
Margo Frossard was the first hit to kick off the 5-0 run with a single to center field, stealing second base, and scoring thanks to a single from Wooden. In the bottom of the sixth inning SBU continued to score more. Regan Echelmeier took advantage of a walk and stole second, then scored off an error from William Woods. Angie Micone also took an opportunity of the Owls making errors after a single to left field, she gained extra bases off a wild pitch which led her to score. The Bearcats held the Owls from scoring ending the game in a victory 7-4. The pitching lineup for this game was Leithead (2.0 IP), Taylor Howard (1.2 IP), and Emma Kreisel (3.1 IP) to finish the game for SBU. Kreisel held the game scoreless while on the mound throwing three strikeouts and picking up the win.
 
The Bearcats will stay in Branson, MO. to play the last two games of the Turf's Up Invitational on Tuesday, February 25. They will play Ecclesia College at 2:00 pm and Mission University at 4:00 pm.