SUMMIT – A throwing error in the bottom of the 11th allowed the Southwest Bears to defeat visiting Baton Rouge Community College 1-0 Friday and pick up a split in their doubleheader. BRCC shut out Southwest 5-0 in the opener.

Both teams had ample chances to score through the first 10 1/2 innings of the nightcap, but were unable to get the timely play necessary to make it happen. That all changed in the Bears’ half of the 11th.

Kendrick Hodges led off the frame with his second hit of the game, a single to centerfield, and moved to second on a Payden Lynch ground out. Hodges then tried to advance to third on a ball hit to the shortstop by Tyler Towles. The shortstop’s throw hit Hodges on the leg and bounced into the Southwest dugout, allowing him to score and give the Bears the narrow win.

Excellent pitching led the way for the Bears (5-3). J. D. Stockstill allowed no hits and struck out two batters in two innings of work to pick up the win. Stockstill followed Jared Simon who went four innings on the mound, surrendering two hits while picking up three strikeouts.

Jason Milton, seeing his first action in nearly two years due to injury, started for the Bears and was nearly perfect in five innings on the hill. He allowed no hits while striking out five. Only three BRCC runners reached base against Milton, two via walks. He hit one batter.

After the game, Milton said “It felt great to be back out there (on the mound) again and it was a great team win. The defense played great behind me and if it weren’t for them it (the five no-hit innings) would never have happened.”

Collin Carroll had two hits in the game, including a triple to left center, while Lynch also had two hits. Anthony Durr and Logan Ferrell also hit safely.

The Bears were on the other side of a shutout in the opener. Two base hits and a hit batter allowed BRCC to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The visitors then added two more in the fourth and a solo run in the seventh to pick up the win.

Jesse Travis allowed four runs, one unearned, and five hits in four innings to take the loss on the mound for the Bears. He struck out one batter and also walked one. Jordan McCaffrey pitched just over an inning, giving up a run on two hits while walking one. Jade Whitten and Jacob Savoy also pitched. The Bears were limited to solo singles by Carroll, Durr and Ferrell.

The Bears return to the diamond today as they face Arkansas Baptist in an 11:00 contest at Jackson’s Smith-Wills Stadium. They will then take on Coahoma Community College at 3:30.