The bats were key for the Bears Saturday at Coahoma as the offense produced 20 hits between both contests including 13 in Game 1 alone, as Southwest split with the Tigers taking Game 1 13-7 while dropping a heartbreaker 4-3 in the nightcap.
The Bears (12-19, 3-5 MACCC) struck first in Game 1, getting a sacrifice fly from Justin Domiano to take a 1-0 lead.
It was unfortunately answered in the bottom half of the inning when the Tigers scored in similar fashion.
But a rally from Southwest in the third gave the visitors the upper-hand once again. A single from Cody Presley was followed by walks to Cam Bolden, Zayne Landry, Jake Meilstrup and Gage Hinnant with the latter half of the four resulting in a run apiece giving Southwest a 3-1 lead.
The Bears added another run in the third on an RBI double from Cooper Lewis before three more runs in the fifth on an RBI double from Lewis, and RBI single from Presley and Landry made it a 7-1 lead.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own making it a three-run deficit once again.
Southwest answered with on another rally in the sixth, led off with a solo home run from Meilstrup. A Lane Steinwinder RBI ground out, was followed by and RBI single from Trace Roy and an double from
Presley increasing the Bear lead to 11-4.
Two runs apiece from the Bears and the Tigers highlighted the seventh inning, making the score the 13-6. Coahoma scored its last run in the ninth before Southwest sealed the win.
Hinnant and Presley both had three hits to lead Southwest while Lewis recorded two doubles.
In Game 2, Coahoma scored the game's first run in the second taking a 1-0 lead.
But Southwest grabbed the upper hand in the fourth when Presley doubled to center allowing Lewis and Steinwinder to touch home giving the Bears a 2-1 lead.
The lead grew to 3-1 in the sixth as Lewis continued his big day with yet another double, this time scoring Steinwinder.
But the momentum, unfortunately swung back to the home side as the Tigers got two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, tying the game at 3.
Both teams continued to battle over the next few innings, forcing extra innings.
In the eighth, an unfortunate Bear mistake allowed a Tiger baserunner to race home for the game-winning run.
Steinwinder led the Bears with two hits, and two runs scored.
Southwest returns home to host East Central Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said that he would like to improve his team's fielding more heading into the series with a very good Warriors team.
"We are going to get back to the basics and do individual drill work," he said. "We are going to get back focused on what leads to success and we'll pick that up on Monday and be prepared to go on Wednesday."
