The recent five-game win streak came to an unfortunate end for Southwest Baseball Saturday in Scooba with a 9-5 loss in Game 1 to East Mississippi. But the Bears made sure to close out the day on a high note and in impressive fashion, picking up a 4-0 win in Game 2, earning the split with the Lions.
"I think that we played solid baseball again all day," Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said. "We played a solid baseball game and got beat in it. We faced some really good arms today. We missed a couple of opportunities early."
The Bears (20-23, 10-12 MACCC) got the bats going early in the opener. With Hunter Harrell on via a double, Connor McHenry stepped up and brought Harrell home with a double of his own putting Southwest up 1-0.
Unfortunately, the Lions not only immediately responded but also took the lead in the process with a two-run home run. An RBI double in the second pushed the hosts' lead to 3-1.
Southwest inched closer in the third following a Colson Thompson fielder's choice bringing Braiden Jones home making it a 3-2 game.
A rally in the fourth allowed the Bears to pull even. Tyler Otts got on base via a single before Marcus Jackson joined him after getting hit by a pitch. Following a double play during the ensuing at bat, Otts raced home tying the game at 3.
The tie, unfortunately, did not last long as the Lions once again jumped ahead by one in the fourth. They added to their lead in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and a single making it a 6-3 contest.
Southwest was put in an even further hole in the sixth as East Mississippi added three more runs increasing its lead to 9-3.
Following a lengthy delay due to rough weather in the area, play resumed and the Bears cut into the Lions' lead following a two-run double to left from Otts, scoring Christian Kell and Thompson.
But the Bears could not pull any closer as the Lions sealed the win.
Starter Justin Thomas went 3.2 innings striking out four while giving up three hits and three walks. He was relieved by Caiden Necaise, Collin Netto and Trace Dearman.
Offensively, McHenry led the way with three hits and an RBI.
In the nightcap, the Bears got arguably the best performance of the season, thus far, from starter Luke Lirette. The freshman from Houma, LA went the distance for the Bears striking out six while allowing no runs, one walk and three hits.
He went toe-to-toe with East Mississippi starter Landon Scruggs who, like Lirette, also made his mark early in the contest. Both the Bears and the Lions had difficulty finding consistent offense.
Southwest broke the mold in the sixth. Jones touched home after Thompson reached via an error, making it a 1-0 game. Two batter later, Otts singled to left scoring both Jerod Williams and Kell, increasing the Bear lead to 3-0.
Lirette continued to deal in the sixth, adding another strikeout in the process and keeping the Lion offense grounded.
A passed ball in the seventh allowed Jackson to touch home making the score 4-0 in favor of Southwest. Two more strikeouts in the seventh from Lirette helped the Bears seal the win securing the split.
Otts finished with two hits and two RBIs in the win.
Jackson reached safely in both contests extending his school record streak of consecutive games reaching on base to 25.
The Bears will be on the road once again for their next contest as they will make the short drive north to Wesson on Tuesday to face Co-Lin at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
