Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University baseball team dropped its two opening Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) games in close fashion against the Rockhurst University Hawks. The Bearcats fell by two runs in both contests, losing 6-8 in the first game and 4-6 in extra innings in game two.

Game one saw Ryne Kaiser get the start for SBU. The Bearcats struck first in the bottom of the opening inning after a Ryan Ray single led to a big RBI double from Cooper Burgess.

Both teams traded runs throughout the middle innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Sam Schmidt delivered a two-RBI double to give the Bearcats a 6-5 advantage. However, Rockhurst answered just a half-inning later, scoring two runs in the seventh and another in the ninth inning to secure the 6-8 win.

In game two, the Bearcats tied the game in the second inning when Beau Honeycutt lifted a sacrifice fly. SBU then fell behind 1-4 after the fourth inning before mounting a comeback in the sixth.

With the bases loaded, Ray delivered another key single to cut the deficit. A walk by Lane Snow and an error by the Rockhurst third baseman allowed SBU to tie the game heading into the seventh inning.

Caden Norman entered on the mound in the top of the seventh and struck out the side, giving the Bearcats a chance to walk it off in the bottom half. SBU loaded the bases with one out but was unable to push across the winning run.

In the top of the eighth inning strong base running from the Hawks, key at bats, and an error by SBU scored two for Rockhurst putting the Bearcats behind 6-8 for the final runs of the game.

The Bearcats and Hawks will conclude the series on Sunday, March 8, with a doubleheader scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Dodson Field.