Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 St. Louis, Mo. - The Spartans were roughed up by the Missouri Valley offense, falling 7-2 in game one. In game two, Missouri Baptist couldn't complete the comeback, as the team fell 8-2 in extra innings.
The Vikings wasted little time getting on base, with a leadoff triple off the bat of short stop Paige Savage. Starter Jena Trombley got the next batter to ground out, but Hannah Garczynski hit a single to left, scoring Savage giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Missouri Valley pushed their lead to 2-0 after a double by Logan Stapp that scored Mallory White from first, who reached on a fielder's choice.
In the bottom half of the first, the Spartans were able to even the score. Lindsay Benck led off with a single to left. Benck stole second base, getting into scoring position for the Missouri Baptist hitters. With two outs, right fielder Katie Payne lined a double to right field, scoring Benck. Next up was Danielle Bayer, who reached base on a infield single, scoring Payne tying the game up at 2-2.
Starter Kimberley Lopez shut down Missouri Baptist after the first inning, throwing a complete game allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out three. In the top of the fourth, the Vikings pushed their lead to 4-2, thanks to a two run homer off the bat of pitcher Kimberly Lopez. Missouri Valley went on to add one more run in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth for the five run win.
In a rare occurrence, Trombley was roughed up in the complete game outing, allowing seven runs on 13 hits and striking out one. Of the seven hits on the day, Payne went 2-3 with one run and one RBI. Beside the home run from Lopez, Missouri Valley was led by Savage who was 3-3 at the dish, with two runs scored and one RBI. Hannah Garczynski tied the team led with two RBI on the day.
In game two, Missouri Valley threatened early in the top of the second with the bases loaded. Kellsie Domnitz, however, focused on the batter and struck out Marisol Espinoza ending the inning. In the top of the fourth inning, the Vikings grabbed the first advantage.
Espinoza singled to center, starting the Missouri Valley offense. Savage came up next and hit a single to right, that scored Espinoza from first, after an error by right fielder Natalie Aubuchon, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Miranda Romero got the offense going with a pinch hit single. After advancing to second on a Donyelle DeMarse ground out, Romero was able to score on a Katie Payne single, tying up the game. Neither team scored in the seventh inning, so it was time for extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Vikings finally got the better of Domnitz. Missouri Valley scored seven runs on five hits, gaining an 8-1 lead. The Spartans couldn't muster up a second comeback in the bottom of the inning, falling 8-2.
Even though Domnitz allowed eight runs, up until the eighth inning, she was pitching a gem. The freshman hurler gave up 12 hits and struck out seven, throwing 134 pitches. The bats for Missouri Baptist went cold, as the team compiled five hits.
The teams' record moves to 23-9, but will be right back at it on March 4th as the team host Stephens College in conference play. First pitch is set to start at 2:00 p.m.
