Baseball
Bearcat baseball drops opener in 12 innings, 7-6
By
Feb 6, 2009, 22:07

DURANT, Okla. -- The SBU Bearcat baseball team opened their 2009 campaign on a near perfect day for baseball, with 70 degrees in early February. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, the outcome was far from perfect as they fell 7-6 in 12 innings to Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday afternoon.

Senior pitcher Ray Kelly had a good opening day start, throwing five innings and allowing just two runs while striking out three.  Catcher Kyle Howell and outfielder Kyle Wise each had two hits for the Bearcats. DH Bo Helsel drove in two for SBU.

“I was proud of our guys. They battled hard,” said SBU head coach Sam Berg. “They just couldn’t get anything going over the last five innings. It was a great game, but we’re disappointed and wish we could have gotten the win.”

The Bearcats (0-1) had a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, before surrendering a game-tying two-run home run to SEOSU’s Trey Wingo. It was Wingo’s second blast of the day and he finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.

After starting hot, the Bearcat bats went cold over the last five innings. Southeastern (1-0) was able to get a leadoff double in the bottom of the 12th inning from Matt Oiler. Oiler was moved over via sacrifice bunt and later scored the winning run with two outs on a slow roller on the third base side that SEOSU’s Mat Wolf was able to beat out the throw to first.

The three game series with Southeastern Oklahoma continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

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