SUMMIT – Five home runs spread over two games helped the Southwest Lady Bears open the 2014 softball campaign with 14-5 and 11-2 wins over visiting Mississippi Delta Wednesday afternoon.

A two-out walk followed by a Brie Harper homer to center put the Lady Bears on top 2-0 in the first inning of the initial game Wednesday. A three-run shot Harley Myers and run-scoring single by Kristen Gekler made it 6-1after two innings.

Southwest added three more runs in their half of the third to make it 9-1. Another three-run blast, this one in the bottom of the fourth by Gekler, helped the Lady Bears go up 14-1. The Lady Trojans picked up their final runs in the top of the fifth before the game ended.

Myers and Chelsea Nette both went 3-4 and drove in four runs to pace the Lady Bears’ attack. Harper and Marisa Pruski both had two hits. Amy Lea, Abigail Hall, Gekler and Marisa Jenkins also hit safely.

Gekler was the winning pitcher for Southwest. In 3.2 innings in the circle, she gave up only one run on two hits, striking out three while issuing no bases on balls. Madison Teague also pitched.

The Lady Bears jumped out to a quick 3-0 in the first inning of the finale. With Harley Myers and Chelsea Nette on base via base hits, freshman Abigail Hall picked up her first collegiate home run with a shot to left field.

Jessica Pipkins drove in a run with a single in the second inning and later scored on an errant throw to put the Lady Bears up 5-0. With the score 5-1 in the bottom of the third, Gekler led off the Southwest half of the frame with a single and later scored on Pipkins’ double to make the score 7-1.

The final Southwest runs of the day came in grand fashion in the fourth inning. Singles by Myers and Hall and a walk to Harper set the stage for Gekler who responded with a grand slam to straight away center to make the score 11-1. The Lady Trojans then picked up their final run in the top of the fifth.

Myers went 3-3 for the Lady Bears while Pipkins, Hall, Payton Lewis and Gekler all had two hits. Gekler drove in four runs. Nette and Mary Margaret McLaurin also had hits.

Hall was the winning pitcher for Southwest. Through four innings, she allowed a run on three hits while striking out two and walking none. Keely Fortenberry pitched one inning.

The Lady Bears hit the road today for a 3:00 doubleheader at Pensacola State Community College. They follow that up with games Friday and Saturday against Northwest Florida and Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, AL.