SCOOBA — Going into Monday's final regular season doubleheader at East Mississippi, the Lady Bears knew what was at stake. A win against the Lions would push Southwest into the playoffs.
 
But the Lady Bears knew it wasn't going to be easy, not only having to face a tough East Mississippi team, but also less than 24 hours removed from a challenging doubleheader the day before. And despite giving it their all, the Lady Bears were unable to find the consistency they needed falling 4-0 in Game 1 and 6-2 in Game 2, thus ending their season.
 
"I have to tip my hat to our sophomores," Southwest head coach Shea Johnson said. "We had opportunities today, but I think that we ran out of gas. Playing back to back was tough."
 
In Game 1, the Lady Bears (17-29, 11-17 MACCC) got out of a bit of a jam with two runners on as they converted a triple play when Malley Chase Faulkner caught a line drive just before it hit the ground and followed up by catching both runners off of first and second bases.
 
The Lady Bears tried to rally in the second and put a runner on after Corin Talbot singled to left. But she was stranded after the next three batters were retired.  
 
Southwest unfortunately fell behind in the third as the Lions pushed two runs across.
 
The Lady Bears were unable to answer and fell into a deeper hole in the sixth as the Lions pushed two more runs across making the score 4-0.
 
Down to their final three outs in the contest, the Lay Bears tried to rally but were unable to as they were unfortunately retired in order, giving East Mississippi the win.
 
Talbot led the Lady Bears going 1-for-3. In the circle she gave up only two hits, two runs (unearned) and one walk while striking out five.
 
In Game 2, Southwest trailed 1-0 in the first following an East Mississippi RBI single.
 
But the Lady Bears battled back in the third. Erin Acey walked and scored two at bats later when Liberty Gillihan singled to left field, tying the game at 1.   
 
The Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning with another RBI single putting the Lady Bears down 2-1.
 
The back-and-forth battle continued in the fourth as Southwest responded with Lauryn Roebuck singling to right allowing Kate Clements to score, once again tying the game, this time at 2.
 
The momentum stayed with Southwest in the fourth as starting pitcher Skye Sharp and the Lady Bears retired the Lions in order.
 
In the fifth, however, East Mississippi went on a run, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 lead.
 
After Southwest was unable to respond in the sixth, the Lady Bears' deficit unfortunately grew to four at 6-2 as East Mississippi pushed a run across on an RBI single.
 
The Lady Bears tried to rally one last time in the seventh but was shut down giving the win to the Lions and ending Southwest's season.
 
Sharp went 5.0 innings giving up five runs (earned) and no walks while striking out three. She was relieved by Tye Boone who also logged time in the first contest. In Game 2, Boone pitched 1.0 inning giving up two hits, one run (earned) and no walks while striking out one.
 
Alyssa Leggett and Gillihan led the offense with two hits apiece with the latter also adding an RBI.