The Bears entered Friday's slate of games in Decatur against No. 7 Southeastern (Iowa) and Southwestern Illinois knowing that it was going to be a tough challenge in all. But they rose to the occasion defeating the Blackhawks 9-8 in Game 1 before erasing an 8-run deficit and getting a walk-off 13-12 win against the Blue Storm in the nightcap.
"I'm really proud of our guys for continuing to focus on what's important," Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said. "For continuing to represent the Southwest program the way that they should. I am really proud of them."
In Game 1, the Bears (6-4) fell behind 2-0 after the first inning as the Blackhawks got their offense going early.
But Southwest answered right back in the second. Colson Thompson started the rally off with a solo home run to center putting the Bears on the board. The next three batters in Nolan Walther, Trace Roy and Davis Knight all reached safely loading the bases for Cody Presley who singled to left bringing Walther home and tying the game at 2.
During the ensuing at bat, Roy scored on a wild pitch giving Southwest its first lead of the contest. Two batters later, Gage Hinnant brought two runs home on a single to center field making it a 5-2 game. Southeastern responded in its half of the second with a two-run home run reducing the Southwest lead down to one at 5-4.
But yet another rally by the Bears in the third once again created some distance. One run scored as Knight reached on an error before Southwest added two more during the ensuing at bat when an another error was followed by a fielder's choice RBI hit by Presley. The Bears led 8-4 midway through the third inning.
The Blackhawks once again answered back and reduced the Bear lead in their half of the inning on yet another two-run home run making it an 8-6 ballgame.
The tussle continued between the two teams in the fourth. Southwest added another run on a fielder's choice when Tyler Otts grounded out and Marcus Jackson scored. However, Southeastern got an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth to pull close once again at 9-7. Southeastern added another run in the fifth.
From there, the Bears got a strong outing from Myles Green who closed the door on any future Blackhawk opportunities in the contest preserving the win for the Bears. Green struck out four and gave up only one walk over 3.1 innings pitched. He relieved Darrius Dampier who came on for starter Luke Lirette. Dampier got his second win of the season. Lirette struck out four over 3.0 innings of work.
Offensively, the Bears were led by Trace Roy who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Walther also had two hits and one run scored. Both Presley and Hinnant finished with a hit and two RBIs apiece.
In Game 2 against the Blue Storm, it was the Bears who set the tone early. After starter Jackson Hawsey retired the side in order, the offense shined.
With two runners on, Walther singled to left bringing Otts home. Next up was Roy who continued his productive day with a triple to right allowing Thompson and Walther to touch home giving the Bears a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Storm answered back in the third inning and in a big way plating nine runs and putting the Bears in a sizable hole. The deficit unfortunately increased even more the following inning as Southwestern Illinois added two more runs making it an 11-3 game.
Southwest inched closer in the fourth when Dawson Richard singled in Presley to pull the Bears within seven at 11-4. But the Blue Storm once again made it an eight-run deficit in the sixth, taking advantage of a Bear error.
Despite the deficit, the Bears did not panic one bit and continued to fight. Their efforts paid off in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and no outs Presley singled to left bringing Walther home. Next up was Sam Crowe who was hit by a pitch scoring another Southwest run. Ensuing batter Jackson walked adding another run and pulling the Bears even closer at 12-7.
Two-consecutive fielder's choices on balls put in play by Hinnant and Otts allowed Presley and Crowe to score, respectively, and allowed Southwest to reduce the Southwestern Illinois lead down to three at 12-9.
Down to their last two outs, the Bears rallied once again. Three-consecutive singles from Roy, Lane Steinwinder and Presley loaded the bases. Two batters later Southwest got an RBI single from Jackson putting Southwest within two. After Hinnant walked to score another run, Otts came through in a big way with a two-run RBI single scoring pinch runner Reed Duthu and Jackson and giving Southwest the big walk-off win.
Peyton Purdue, who came on in relief over the last two innings for the Bears, got the win, his first of the season. He struck out four while giving up only one hit, one run (unearned) and one walk.
Presley led the offense with another big game. He went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Roy also shined with two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Otts had three RBIs while Hinnant posted two.
The Bears return home Monday to host Rend Lake in a single game at 1 p.m.
