SUMMIT – After waiting over two weeks, the Southwest Bears finally made their 2014 home debut Saturday with a 2-1 and 5-1 sweep over the 10th-ranked Kaskaskia College Blue Devils.

Runs were at a premium in the opener against Kaskaskia. The Bears (4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Logan Ferrell led off with a single and later scored on a two-out single by Kendric Hodges. Kaskaskia used a base hit, Southwest error and wild pitch to score their only run in the top of the third and knot the game at 1-1.

The winning run for the Bears came in their half of the sixth when Anthony Durr led off with a double to right field, his second hit of the game. Moving to second on a walk, Durr then stole third base and scored when Hodges reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Shane McKinley pitched five outstanding innings on the mound for the Bears to start the game. The sophomore left-hander allowed only two hits and an unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one base on balls.

Sam Richard then gave up one hit in an inning of relief to pick up the win. Brady Badon pitched the seventh inning and struck out all three batters he faced to record his third save of the young season. Collin Carroll also had a base hit for the Bears.

Southwest used outstanding pitching again in the finale, and exploded for 12 hits, picking up the win in the finale.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second, the Bears answered with three runs in their half of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Payden Lynch got things started with a massive homer to left center field. With two outs, Zach Jones doubled to left. Andrew Hulbert walked. Ferrell then drove them both home with a double to right.

The Bears added their final runs in the fourth inning. Ferrell picked up his third of the game to drive home Jones, on base via a Kaskaskia error. Ferrell then scored on Durr’s second hit of the game, a two-out double to left.

Cliff Hurst (2-0) tossed five innings of two-hit ball to pick up the win for the Bears. He surrendered two hits and an unearned run while striking out five and walking one.

Jared Simon took the mound in the sixth inning before giving way to Jacob Savoy. Both pitchers retired all three batters they faced and both struck out one. Carroll had two base hits in the game, including a double. Cole Guyton and Ken Hodges also hit safely. Lynch added a double.

The Bears were scheduled to host Baton Rouge Community College Sunday afternoon. But, due to the inclement weather in the forecast, the games have been rescheduled for Thursday with game one set for 1:00.