MERIDIAN – The Southwest Lady Bears split a MACJC South Division doubleheader at Meridian Wednesday afternoon, winning the opener 8-2 before falling 3-2 in the finale.

The Lady Bears return home this afternoon to face the Hinds Lady Eagles in a South Division doubleheader that was postponed from March 7. Game one is set for a 3:00 first pitch.

The Lady Bears (5-14, 1-7) led 3-0 after two innings in game one at Meridian. A Harley Myers double and first of two hits from Abi Hall and Kristen Gekler accounted for the first two runs in the first inning. Mary Margaret McLaurin singled in the second and later scored on Myers’ ground out.

Chelsea Moore led off the Meridian fourth with a home run to right field to make the score 3-1. But, the Lady Bears answered with two more in the top of the fifth to make it 5-1. Marisa Pruski, on base via an error, reached home on a Chelsea Nette double. Nette scored later in the inning on another error.

The Lady Bears added their final runs in the top of the sixth. Amy Lea walked to lead off the frame before Pruski picked up her second hit of the game with two outs and both scored following Myers’ single, her third hit of the game. Another Meridian error allowed Myers to reach the plate to make the score 8-1.

Meridian (1-18, 1-9) scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of two Southwest errors.

Keely Fortenberry pitched four innings, giving up a run on two hits, to pick up the win for the Lady Bears. She walked two batters. Hall pitched the final three innings, surrendering an unearned run. Brie Harper had a single in the game.

The Lady Bears were down 2-0 before getting on the scoreboard with two runs in the third inning of the nightcap. Myers and Nette got things started with a double and single, respectively, to centerfield. A line drive single by Gekler later in the inning allowed both to reach the plate.

The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh when three base hits allowed the Lady Eagles to score the winning run.

Maddy Teague took the loss in relief for the Lady Bears. In her four innings of work, she gave up one run on four hits while striking out four and walking one. Starter Leanne Jackson gave up a two runs, one earned, on one hit in her three innings in the circle. She issued two bases on balls. Hall picked up a base hit in the game.