The Omnibus

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Sports

Southwest Baptist University's baseball team took on Drury University in a doubleheader Tuesday, Feb. 20. The Bearcats took both games, 2-1 and 14-2, respectively.

The Southwest Baptist baseball team evened its record at 2-2 after sweeping their doubleheader with Drury University Tuesday. The first game was a pitcher's duel with the Bearcats coming out on top 2-1. In the second game, SBU easily handled Drury, 14-2.
Over a week ago, the 'Cats looked a little rusty in dropping two games to Harding, but SBU was much sharper in their second day of games.
The perfect example of the Bearcats shaking off the rust was MIAA All-Conference junior pitcher Zane Montgomery. Against Harding, Montgomery was the definition of rusty, hitting six batters, walking two more and giving up six runs (four earned) in five innings. Montgomery was closer to his 2006 form on Tuesday by pitching six innings and striking out 10 while only yielding one walk and one run.
"[Montgomery] looked pretty good today, once he settled down," said Head Coach Sam Berg. "We had to make a few mechanical adjustments, but I was happy overall with the way we pitched in both games."
Montgomery left the game with a 2-1 lead, thanks to the middle of the Bearcats' line-up answering Drury's lone run in the fourth inning. Down 1-0 with nobody on base and two out, junior Chris Martinez started the rally by singling to left field and stealing second base. Then junior outfielder Josh Bagget singled to left to bring in Martinez, and Bagget advanced to second on the throw home. Next up for the Bearcats was senior catcher Skyler Powers. Powers hit what looked to be an inning-ending ball to the shortstop who booted it and allowed Bagget to score from second giving the 'Cats a 2-1 lead.
Sophomore Bobby McMillin earned his first save of the year for SBU by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
In the second game, the SBU bats came to life, and the Drury gloves died. What started out as another close game turned ugly late as the Bearcats picked up 12 runs in the final three innings and watched Drury commit seven errors. On the game, only three of the 'Cats' 14 runs were earned.
Junior James Ledford picked up his first win of the year, going 5.2 innings and surrendering two runs. Offensively, everybody got into the act for SBU as six Bearcats had multi-hit games. Bagget, Martinez and sophomore Jason Asher each drove in three runs to lead the attack.
Next up for the 'Cats is a doubleheader with Minnesota State University - Mankato. Friday, the Bearcats will face MSUM at home with first pitch scheduled for noon. Saturday, the Bearcats will turn around and play MSUM in another doubleheader at home with first pitch at 11 a.m.

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