Baseball
SBU baseball drops twin bill to Arkansas Tech
By
Mar 3, 2009, 19:39

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU baseball Bearcats dropped two non-conference games to Arkansas Tech Tuesday, by scores of 14-9, and 7-6 (called after six innings due to darkness).

The two losses end SBU's three-game winning streak, as the 'Cats were coming off a win against Rockhurst and a pair of wins against Washburn in the conference opener. In the first game, ATU jumped out to a five run lead, after putting up four runs in the third inning. SBU answered back with three runs in the bottom of the third, thanks to a two-run triple by Kyle Wise, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Justin Barnhart.

After giving up another run in the fourth, SBU scored three more in the bottom half of the inning when shortstop A.J. Roller walked with the bases loaded, bringing in Brendon Cox. Kyle Wise followed up by driving in Kyle Tormanen for Wise's third RBI of the game. Finally, center fielder Jason Asher scored on a wild pitch to give the Bearcats a 6-5 lead. SBU would put up three more runs, but it wouldn't be enough to catch the Wonder Boys (9-13), who put up five runs in the sixth inning, which gave them the lead for good.

Asher went 2-for-3 for the Bearcats and scored twice. Brandon Shepherd cranked a two-run homer for the 'Cats. Tormanen went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

The second game saw the 'Cats (4-7, 2-0 MIAA) put up five runs in the first inning, with Asher cranking a leadoff triple to left-center field, and followed by a walk and three straight hits from the heart of the Bearcat lineup, including a two-RBI double from catcher Kyle Howell, and a two-RBI single from Shepherd. SBU tacked on one more run in the second to make it a 6-3 ballgame, but the bats went silent from then on. ATU was able to come back, and with three runs in the fifth inning, to take a 7-6 lead. The game, scheduled for seven innings, was called due to darkness after the sixth inning.

Game two stats saw Asher again go 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Shepherd drove in two for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats are back in MIAA action on Friday and Saturday, March 6th and 7th, when SBU hosts Pittsburg State in a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch for both days is scheduled for noon.

ATU 14, SBU 9 (Game 1)
ATU 7, SBU 6, F/6 (Game 2)