[Box 1 / Box 2]

BOLIVAR, MO. ... Taking their first three-game MIAA series of the season, Southwest Baptist held onto a nailbiter in game one, 9-8, and then shut out Truman State, 10-0, in game two. In the entire series, SBU scored 32 runs. With the two wins, SBU has secured their first 20-win season since 2000 and the 10th 20-win season in SBU baseball history.

SBU 9, TSU 8

Jason Hines belted a grand slam to give SBU the lead for good in the 3rd inning.

Beau Davis came in for his fourth save of the year in the top of the seventh inning. This became interesting when one run scored and then TSU had base runners on first and third with two outs TSU then flew out to centerfield for the final out of the game and a 9-8 win.

TSU struck first in the top of the third inning as they brought home two runs. SBU responded with a five-run third inning. Robby Hallock came home on a wild pitch to score the first run to cut the lead to one, 2-1. Seth Burrell walked to load the bases and set the table for Jason Hines' blast. Hines launched a grand slam home run to put SBU up 5-2 with two outs in the inning.

SBU made it 8-2 in the fourth inning as they added three more runs. Hallock scored again on a TSU error for the first run of the inning. Caleb Stark's sacrifice fly allowed Josh Baggett to score the second run and then Burrell singled home Miller to make it 8-2.

The Bearcats could not keep their six-run advantage as the Bulldogs knocked in five runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to one, 8-7. SBU added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Eric Beal singled in Spencer Wilkins.

TSU made a run for the game in teh top fo the seventh, but fell short as Beau Davis took the save. Dustin Childress started the game and went 3.0 innings and struck out three. Seth Burrell received the win for pitching 1.2 innings after Childress and then Mike Cutler, John Facteau, and Davis all pitched SBU to the win.

On the hitting side, SBU only had five hits to Trumans 14. Beal led the way with two hits and one RBI. Hines had four RBI to lead the team.

SBU 10, TSU 0

Danny Malone two-hit Truman State and did not allow a runner on base the last 4.2 innings.

Danny Malone put on a pitching clinic in the second game as he pitched eight innings and only gave up two hits. One of the hits given up was the first batter that he faced in the game. From the fourth inning on, 11 straight batters were retired as the first batter in the fourth inning was caught stealing. He also recorded six strikeouts. TSU's only other hit came in the third inning.

SBU had one-run innings in the second and third innings. Beal's sacrifice fly to right field scored Burrell in the second and then Miller came home in the third inning on a Hines ground out.

The fifth inning brought three more runs as two were scored from home runs. Both Miller and Stark hit the home runs. Miller hit his first with only one out and then after Skyler Powers flied out, Stark lofted a shot over the right field fence to make it 4-0. Burrell tripled to send Hines home for the third run.

Another three-run inning took place in the seventh to make it 8-0. Hines tripled as the second batter of the inning and sent Stark home for the sixth run of the game. Burrell singled to score Hines and then Beal singled home Burrell for the third run of the inning.

SBU finished off TSU in the eighth with two runs to end the game on the 10-run rule. With the bases loaded, Wilkins walked to score the ninth run. Hines finished the game when a wild pitch crossed the plate and he came home to end the game.

Miller and Stark each went 3-of-4 for SBU and Beal, Hines, and Burrell each had two RBI. Miller's home run in the fifth inning marked his 11th of the year. He now needs just two home runs to tie the SBU single season record for home runs in a season.

SBU will travel to Missouri-Rolla on Tuesday, April 26, to finish their suspended game from April 5 and then play a double header after that game. The suspended game will start at 12 p.m. and picks up in the fourth inning.