Southwest closed play on Day 2 of the 2025 JUCO Classic in style Saturday, setting a new season high in hits with 18 in a 14-5 win over Coastal Alabama – North. Earlier in the day, Southwest unfortunately came up short against Southern Arkansas University Tech, falling 6-4.
 
"I think that we are coming together as a team and playing well together," Southwest head coach Shea Johnson said. "In general, just a lot of leadership, a lot of growing this weekend to continue to get better."
 
Of the 18 hits for the Lady Bears (4-12) in the Game 2 win, five of them were extra base hits including a pair of doubles from Allie Ladnier who had a huge game with three hits and a new season high of six RBIs, doubling her previous mark.
 
She quickly made her presence known in the bottom of the first with an RBI double to left scoring Maggie Wilks. Ladnier also got the start in the circle and found success, picking up a strikeout to help keep the Lady Coyotes from responding.
 
In the third, however, Coastal rallied, scoring five runs on a grand slam and a solo home run as Southwest trailed 5-1.
 
The bottom half of the inning saw the Lady Bears respond with two runs on a Lady Coyote error followed by an RBI ground out by Kate Clements.
 
The scores built momentum which carried over in the fourth when Southwest regained the lead. Three-consecutive RBI singles from Wilks, Corin Talbot and Ladnier scored four runs making it a 7-5 lead for the Lady Bears.
 
Skye Sharp, who took over pitching duties earlier in the contest, retired the side in order in the fifth before Southwest added to its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Lauryn Roebuck grounded out but it allowed Gabby Carr to race home increasing the lead to three at 8-5.
 
The hits kept coming for Southwest in the sixth. Carr recorded an RBI single before Malley Chase Faulkner reached on an error resulting in another run. Next up was Roebuck who smacked a double to right scoring Faulkner. Later in the inning, Ladnier hit a double scoring Talbot, before Roebuck scored on the throw resulting in the walk-off win for Southwest in six innings.
 
In addition to Ladnier's big game, Roebuck, Talbot and Wilks also finished with three hits. Wilks and Talbot also recorded three runs and one RBI apiece while Roebuck had two runs and two RBIs.
 
Ladnier went 2.1 innings in the circle, giving up only two hits, three runs (earned) and two walks while striking out two. Sharp went the remaining 3.2 innings, giving up only two hits, two runs (earned) and one walk while striking out one.
 
In Game 1 against the Lady Rockets, the Lady Bears got their offense going early. During just the third at bat of the contest, Ladnier launched a two-run home run to left putting Southwest up 2-0.
 
The Lady Bears lost the momentum in the second as the Lady Rockets scored four runs putting Southwest down 4-2. The deficit unfortunately grew in the third as a home run made it a 6-2 game.
 
But the Lady Bears showed great resilience and fought back in the fifth, answering back with a two-run home run of their own, this one off the bat of Talbot, cutting into the lead at 6-4.
 
Southwest threatened with a pair of baserunners in the seventh, but couldn't get them home as they fell in Game 1.
 
Alyssa Leggett finished with two hits to lead Southwest while Talbot and Ladnier each recorded two RBIs.
 
Southwest will be back in action on March 6 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. hosting Lansing.