The Lady Bears put forth a strong effort in Tuesday's conference games against Mississippi Gulf Coast but could not close the deal, falling 10-2 in Game 1 and 11-2 in Game 2.

In Game 1, Lauren Mounce got the start for the Lady Bears (12-10, 1-5 MACCC) and was locked in a pitcher's duel with the Lady Bulldogs' Olivia Falcon for the first three innings.

Presley Dease broke the scoreless streak in the fourth, leading off the inning with a solo home run to left, putting Southwest up 1-0.

After Gulf Coast pulled even in the fourth, Shaylee Ingram led off the fifth with a solo home run of her own giving the Lady Bears a one-run advantage once again, this time at 2-1.  

Unfortunately, Gulf Coast got into a groove in the fifth, plating five additional runs, making it a 6-2 deficit for Southwest. 

The hosts plated their four final runs all in the sixth, handing Southwest the loss.

Anne Claire Sistrunk led the Lady Bears with two hits. Dease and Ingram each finished with a home run and one RBI.

In Game 2, the Lady Bears once again jumped ahead first. In the first inning, Liberty Gillihan doubled and later scored when Alyssa Leggett singled to right. Next up was Sistrunk who hit into a fielder's choice allowing MaryClaire Johnson to touch home,
giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Bulldogs answered right back in their half of the first with three runs putting the Lady Bears down 3-2.

Gulf Coast added one run in the second and seven more in the fourth as Southwest had trouble slowing down the Lady Bulldogs.

Despite being down, the Lady Bears continued to show tremendous fight, but they could not get over the hump as they fell in Game 2.

Gillihan had a hit and a run scored while Leggett had a hit and an RBI.

The Lady Bears will be back in action on Thursday hosting Northeast Mississippi at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.