ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist baseball lost its fourth-straight game on Thursday against Campbellsville University before breaking-out for 14 runs against Lindsey Wilson in a 3-1 loss and a 14-2 win on Friday afternoon.
The Campbellsville Tigers beat the Spartans for the second consecutive day and needed just two runs in the second inning to get the win. First baseman Brandon Johnson got things started with a single to lead-off the second inning for Campbellsville and came around to score just two batters later on an RBI single by Aaron Schwoebel.
Catcher Keaton Neeb came to the plate next and delivered a single to left field allowing Schwoebel to cross the plate off MBU's Ryan Clarke's error. The run proved to be the difference in the game as MBU was only able to post one run (unearned) in the top of the sixth thanks to an error by Tiger's second basemen Michael Bush.
After the fourth-consecutive loss on the year for Missouri Baptist, the Spartans found their offense in short order in game two against Lindsey Wilson. The Blue Raiders took a brief 1-0 lead after one inning, but MBU took control in the top of the second.
Missouri Baptist exploded for seven runs in the second, which was started with a single by newcomer Garrett Vail. The Spartan catcher singled to short to lead-off in the inning. After a single by Kyle Turner and a walk by Vincenzo Fresquez, Ryan Clarke drove-in Vail to put MBU on the board.
Pier Olivier-Dostaler drove in two more on a double down the left-field line. On the same play, Jeandro Andino recorded a wild throw, which allowed Clark to come all the way around from first to make it a 4-1 game. Jo Jo Taylor and Vail also delivered RBI doubles in the inning, essentially putting the game out of reach.
Over the course of the game, Missouri Baptist starting pitcher Ethan Gibbons ensured that the Blue Raiders would not mount a comeback. Gibbons allowed six hits in six innings and just two earned runs to preserve the lead.
MBU posted four more runs in the fourth, thanks to a solo homerun by Ryan Gunhouse and a three-run dinger by Kyle Turner en-route to the lopsided victory.
The Spartans have now completed the seven-game road trip to begin the season and will play its first home games of the season on February 22 in a doubleheader against Mount Mercy. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Spartan Fields.
