After getting off to a strong start in Saturday's doubleheader at East Mississippi, picking up a 3-2 win in Game 1 over the Lady Lions, the Lady Bears unfortunately couldn't carry that momentum over to Game 2 as they fell 8-2.

"All in all, I thought it was a good day for the Bears," Southwest head coach Shea Johnson said. "We went out and played really well, we pitched it really well (but) we made some uncharacteristic infield mistakes."

In Game 1, the Lady Bears (14-18, 3-13) got off to a solid start as starter Lauren Mounce struck out a pair of batters and kept East Mississippi off of the scoreboard.

In the third, Southwest struck first offensively. Erin Acey reached base via a walk and was brought home during the ensuing at bat when Liberty Gillihan sent the first pitch she saw over the right field wall putting the Lady Bears up 2-0.

Over the next two innings, Mounce and the Lady Bear defense proved to be a thorn in the sides of the Lady Lions, preventing them from getting anything going offensively.

Southwest added to its lead in the sixth. Abbey Pevey walked and was replaced by pinch runner Gabby Carr who advanced to second when ensuing batter Presley Dease was hit by a pitch.
Next up was pinch hitter Anlyssa Richardson who moved Carr to third and Dease to second with a ground out. Ensuing batter Anne Claire Sistrunk brought Carr home following a single to left making it a 3-0 lead for Southwest.

The Lady Lions plated their two runs in the sixth on a passed ball followed by a ground out. But the Lady Bears quickly regrouped and got out of the inning, maintaining the lead.

Despite East Mississippi runners reaching base in the seventh, Southwest shut the door on the threat as Mounce struck out two-consecutive batters before getting a fly out sealing the win.

Mounce went the distance striking out six while giving up eight hits, two runs (unearned) and one walk. Gillihan led the offense with two hits, including the home run, one run scored and two RBIs.

In Game 2, however, the roles were reversed as East Mississippi struck first with three runs on a fielder's choice followed by two-consecutive ground outs.

The Lady Bears tried to answer as Dease singled and reached second via a sacrifice bunt, but she was unable to be brought home.

The hosts plated two more runs in the second on a single to center making it a 5-0 deficit for Southwest.

But the Lady Bears rallied in the third to inch closer. After Londyn Robertson reached base via an error and Richardson walked, Gillihan continued to shine with an RBI single scoring Robertson. After Pevey joined the fray reaching base on a fielder's choice, Richardson scored on an RBI single by Dease reducing the deficit to three at 5-2.

In the fifth, however, the Lady Lions answered back with a three-run inning increasing their lead to the eventual final.

Dease led the Lady Bears going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Southwest will be back in action on Wednesday as they visit Co-Lin at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.