Behind the performance of freshman Walt Aldridge, the Southwest Bears survived a 10-inning, four hour plus slugfest to defeat the Holmes Bulldogs 15-14 Friday at Jackson’s Smith-Wills Stadium. Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to rain and will be played at a date to be determined later.

Aldridge finished the day 3-4 at the plate with two home runs, six runs batted in, two runs scored and two walks. His solo shot to left field gave the Bears (7-8 overall, 1-2 conference) a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Holmes scored five in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-1 lead.

An RBI double by Trent Gordy helped the Bears pick up two runs in the top of the third to make the score 5-3, but Holmes answered with three in the bottom of the inning to extend their lead to 8-3.

L. D. Coney slammed an RBI triple and Aldridge drove in a run with a single to bring the Bears back to within three, 8-5, in the top of the fourth. But, again, Holmes had an answer, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth and two in the fifth to push out to a 12-5 advantage.

The Bears began their comeback with four runs in the top of the sixth. Ross Buckley drove in a pair with a single while Steven Williams’ base hit scored another run. Sam Richard scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-9.

Aldridge’s three-run blast over the left field fence keyed a five-run seventh inning that put the Bears on top 14-12. But, again, the lead did not last as Holmes (9-6, 0-1) tied it at 14-14 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Neither team was able to score in the ninth inning, forcing extra play. The scoring finally came to an end in the top of the 10th when a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Aldridge scored Dylan Spiers with what proved to be the winning run.

Jade Whitten picked up the win with 1.1 innings on the mound. He allowed one hit while striking out two and walking one. Jordan McCaffrey retired all three batters he faced in the 10th inning to record the save.

Coney finished the day with three hits and three runs scored. Buckley had two singles while Richard had a single and double. Spiers had a base hit, walked three times and scored three runs. Brady Anderson also hit safely.

The Bears return to the diamond on Tuesday when they host the Jones County Bobcats. Game one is set for a 3:00 first pitch.