The Southwest Lady Bears picked up a nine-strikeout, no-walk, one-hit performance from sophomore pitcher Rachel Smith to gain a 2-1 victory in game two and a split in their doubleheader at East Central Thursday afternoon. East Central picked up a 5-1 win in the opener.

The Lady Bears now stand at 13-15 overall on the season and 3-7 in the Division. East Central moved to 21-9, 5-5.

Southwest took a 1-0, second-inning lead in the nightcap, when Marissa Jenkins reached base on a one-out walk and scored via doubles from Mary Margaret McLaurin and Katie Allen. Allen later added a single. Lindsey Beard singled for the Lady Warriors’ only hit of the game and later scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third.

The winning run for the Lady Bears came in the top of the fifth. Leading off with a walk, McLaurin moved to second on a passed ball, to third on a Marisa Pruski sacrifice bunt and raced home on Harley Myers’ base hit up the middle.

The Lady Bears picked up their only two hits and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the first game. Myers led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Carrie Phillips’ hit to left field.

Two doubles and a single allowed East Central to pick up three runs in the bottom of the third and take a 3-1 lead. They added their final two runs in their half of the fourth and held on for the win.

Phillips pitched 3.2 innings in taking the loss for the Lady Bears. She surrendered five runs on seven hits and had three strikeouts while walking two. Kristen Geckler pitched 2.1 innings in relief, allowing two hits while striking out one.

Southwest will return to South Division play Wednesday when they host the Lady Eagles of Hinds Community College. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 3:00.