The Bears knew what was on the line entering Wednesday's home doubleheader against Co-Lin. A win would not only help with the standings but it would also come with bragging rights against the rival Wolves as both teams sought possession of the coveted trophy bat.
And even though the Bears put up strong efforts in both contests, they could not get past the Wolves falling 11-5 in Game 1 and 5-4 in Game 2.
"We never want to lose. Hats off to that group for doing a good job beating us in those two games. We had our best guys going and they beat them," Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said. "They earned it."
In Game 1, the Bears (20-32, 8-16), found themselves down early as the Wolves pushed a run across in the first inning.
But Southwest responded in the third getting an RBI single from Nolan Walther followed by Marcus Jackson crossing home on a wild pitch. During the same at bat, Cody Presley hit into a fielder's choice allowing Walther to score putting the Bears up 3-1.
The visitors scratched another single run across in the fourth reducing the hosts' lead to one at 3-2.
Both teams went back and forth over the next inning and a half before Co-Lin pulled even at three in the sixth. The Wolves unfortunately carried over that momentum to the seventh, plating two additional runs putting the Bears down 5-3.
The Southwest bats had trouble responding as Co-Lin kept the momentum on the visitors' side with three runs apiece in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Bears rallied in the ninth as Presley led off with a double and was brought home during the ensuing at bat when Colson Thompson sent a 1-1 pitch clear over the left field wall reducing the deficit to six at 11-5. And even though Trace Roy and Cru Bella got on base via a double and a walk, respectively, they could not be brought home as the Bears were handed the loss.
Thompson led the Bears with a home run and two RBIs.
In Game 2, the Bears once again found themselves down early as the Wolves scored two runs in the first.
But Southwest followed suit in its half of the inning getting RBI singles from Presley and Tyler Otts, tying the game at 2.
Bear starter Luke Lirette started to get into rhythm, striking out two in the second inning. But he ran into a bit of trouble in the third as Co-Lin scored two runs, taking advantage of a Bear error. The Wolves pushed another run across in the fourth making it a 5-2 game.
In the bottom half of the inning, however, the Bears got into a groove once again. Thompson led off with a double and scored during the next at bat when Otts tripled to center. Later in the inning Otts scored when Gage Hinnant flew out to center pulling the Bears within one at 5-4.
Southwest tried to find the tying run over the next three innings but wasn't able to as the Wolves held on for the narrow win.
Lirette went 6.1 innings striking out seven while giving up only five hits, five runs (two earned) and four walks. Offensively, Thompson and Otts led the Bears with two hits and a run scored apiece with the latter also posting two RBIs.
Southwest will be home for its next contest as the Coahoma Tigers come to Summit Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
