In one final test before the start of conference play next week, the Bears put together two strong performances Friday in a doubleheader against visiting John Melvin Christian, defeating the Mohawks 3-1 in Game 1 and 6-2 in Game 2.
 
After the games, Southwest head coach Jack Edmonson said that there were multiple boxes checked Friday as far as things that his team did well.
 
"Pitching, we pitched really well all day today, giving up only three runs over 14 innings," he said. "We played pretty good defense all day and we hit some barrels. I'm glad to see some of those pieces come around and we are going to continue to get better there."
 
In Game 1, the Bears (9-14) turned to Darius Dampier on the mound and the sophomore battled early, getting out of a slight jam in the first with a runner on second.
 
He settled down in the second inning, retiring three of the four batters he faced, keeping John Melvin from producing any runs.
 
Dampier kept dealing over the third and fourth innings, allowing no more than two base runners in each while also keeping a zero on the visiting side of the scoreboard.
 
"It started off rough, but I leaned on my defense," Dampier said. "I started throwing strikes and let the guys play behind me."

The offense provided help for Dampier in the fourth.
 
Lane Steinwinder and Cody Presley led off with a singles and both advanced on ensuing batter Trace Roy's sacrifice bunt. Next up was Jake Meilstrup who singled in Steinwinder before Cam Bolden singled in Presley making it a 2-0 lead for Southwest. 

Later in the inning, Meilstrup scored after stealing home while Bolden stole third. Meilstrup's run pushed the Bear lead to 3-0.
 
Jackson Hawsey took over on the mound for Dampier and he picked where the fellow sophomore left off, being a thorn in the sides of the Mohawks.
 
John Melvin managed to push a run across in the sixth and threatened to inch closer in the seventh before Camp Segrest, who came on in relief of Hawsey shut the door on the opportunity, preserving the win for the Bears.
 
Dampier went 4.0 innings giving up only four hits, no runs and one walk while striking out three. Hawsey went 2.0 innings giving up only two hits one run (earned) an no walks while recording four strikeouts and Segrest went the remaining 1.0 inning giving up only two walks and striking out one.
 
Meilstrup had a hit, a run scored and an RBI to lead the Bear offense.
 
In Game 2, the Bears got their offense established a bit earlier than Game 1 plating a run in the second by taking advantage of a Mohawk mistake to jump ahead 1-0.
 
Southwest rallied in the third as all nine in the starting lineup batted once. Cooper Lewis and Meilstrup led off with singles before Steinwinder was hit by a pitch and joined them on the basepaths. Next up was Cody Presley who doubled to center scoring Lewis and Meilstrup increasing the lead to 3-0.
 
Following a Roy single, Gage Hinnant hit an RBI double of his own making it a 5-0 game.

Southwest added to its lead in the fourth as Cru Bella scored on a Meilstrup sacrifice fly pushing the Bear lead to 6-0.
 
John Melvin scored its two runs in the seventh before the Bears got the third out preserving the win.
 
Presley and Hinnant led the Bears with two hits, one run scored and two RBIs apiece.

Rhyson Carroway got the start and went 4.0 innings giving up only two hits, no runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. 
 
Southwest opens conference play on the road, Wednesday at Mississippi Delta with contests at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.