The Bears showed a great deal of resiliency at home Tuesday as they endured a tough 10-0 loss to Nunez in Game 1 before bouncing back and hanging on late in Game 2 preserving a 4-3 win over the Pelicans.
"I'm proud of our guys for bouncing back but I am tired of bouncing back, I told our guys that I wanted them to show up and play," Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said. "That needs to be our focus moving forward. We have to have a stronger desire to win the baseball game and compete at a higher level."
In Game 1, the Bears (9-10) couldn't get things going. The Pelicans plated two runs in the second, five in the third and three in the sixth.
Despite the score from Game 1, Southwest quickly regained its composure, and it showed in the field for Game 2.
In the game, Collin Netto got his first collegiate start on the mound and got off to a strong start limiting Nunez to just one baserunner each in the first and second innings while striking out three.
"My game plan was just to pound the zone," he said. "My teammates had my back the whole time. They gave me energy."
He unfortunately gave up a run in the third as the Pelicans made it a 1-0 deficit for the Bears after an RBI single. Afterward, Netto locked back in and got a pop out to end the inning despite Nunez threatening with two runners on base.
The Bear offense got its game going in the third. With Gavin Bledsoe on base via a walk and Reed Duthu on via a single, Marcus Jackson hit into a fielder's choice which allowed Bledsoe to touch home, tying the game at 1. Next up was Tyler Otts who kept the momentum on the home side with an RBI single, scoring Jackson and giving Southwest its first lead of the contest at 2-1.
Netto again held the Pelicans scoreless in the fourth before he was replaced by Davis Knight who kept the momentum going. Knight's change of pace pitching style caught Nunez off guard and he took advantage of it. He picked up two strikeouts in the fifth while holding the Pelicans scoreless.
His offense provided additional help in the fifth. With Duthu at second base, Andrew Burgess stepped in as a pinch hitter and got his first extra base hit of the season smashing a 1-2 pitch to center for an RBI triple.
"I watched two sliders go down the pipe and I told myself that I wasn't going to watch another pitch," he said. "I got a fastball and got a triple out of it."
Next up was Colson Thompson who kept the rally going with an RBI single to center bringing Burgess home and giving Southwest a 4-1 lead.
Even though he had the now three-run advantage, Knight kept his foot on the gas. He admitted that as the game wore on, he became even more comfortable and locked in on the mound.
"When I stepped on the mound, I knew that it was time to go," he said. "As I went on, I threw more and more strikes."
It showed in the sixth as Knight sat the Pelicans down in order in the sixth while adding two more strikeouts.
He ran into some trouble in the seventh as the Pelicans pushed two runs across reducing the Bear lead down to one at 4-3. But Dawsan Richard came on in relief and shut the door on the threat getting a strikeout to seal the win for the Bears.
Netto went 3.1 innings giving up only four hits, one run (earned) and four walks while striking out three. Knight also went 3.1 innings, giving up only four hits, two runs (unearned) and two walks while striking out six.
Duthu and Thompson led the Bears offensively with two hits apiece. Burgess had a run scored and an RBI.
The Bears have a quick turnaround as they will make the short drive to Raymond Wednesday to face Co-Lin at 3 p.m. and Hinds at 6 p.m. in non-conference action.
