By Tre Rowbotham
February 7, 2019
Despite the long and grueling winter break, Bearcat athletic teams have started the 2019 calendar year on a tremendous note. Track & field and basketball are in full swing, baseball and softball have just begun, and tennis’ season commences on Saturday, February 9. With so much going on, let’s take a look at how the Bearcats have fared in their athletic endeavors.
Basketball
It has been a “down year” for SBU’s women’s basketball team. Their overall record of 6-14, however, does not show how superbly they have performed in Bolivar. The Bearcats boast a 6-5 record at home, which is considerably better than the 0-9 tally on the road. In the midst of MIAA Conference play, the Bearcats look to finish the season on a solid note with four games remaining in Bolivar.
The men’s basketball team has alternated between wins and losses in their last six MIAA Conference games and still hold a winning record of 11-9. Although a 5-6 MIAA record has damaged their tremendous start to the season, SBU has remained a strong threat at home particularly. The Bearcats are an impressive 9-4 in their own gymnasium this season.
Track & Field
The Bearcats have participated in four track & field events this season and have one event remaining until the MIAA Championships, which will be held in Maryville, MO, on February 23 and 24. SBU has garnered excellent results from their four meets; by exceeding the qualification threshold, numerous Bearcats have punched their tickets to Nationals, which will be held on March 8 and 9 in Pittsburg, KS.
Baseball/Softball
SBU’s baseball/softball season stepped into the batter’s box on Friday, February 1. The softball team, playing in a five-game tournament in Arkadelphia, AR, faced off against the #2 team in the country, Southern Arkansas University. The Bearcats lost the matchup 0-7 and left Arkansas winless. In hopes of earning their first win, SBU will play a double-header on the road against Oklahoma Christian University on February 12.
SBU’s baseball team started the season with a three-game series against Southern Nazarene University. After losing the first game 1-4, the Bearcats won both games of a double-header the following afternoon, with the scores being 5-4 and 8-3, respectively. With a current record of 2-2, SBU takes on Rogers State University in a double-header on February 9.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Infuse Student Media or Southwest Baptist University.
Thanks for the detailed update!