ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist baseball continued its undefeated streak in conference play on Friday. The team outscored Park University 16-4 over two games and took both games of the doubleheader, 9-3 and 7-1.
Missouri Baptist (9-5) looked like it's offense may not show for game one, but thanks to a big rally in the top of the seventh, the Spartans were able to get things back on track. Down 3-2 heading into the 7th inning of a game scheduled for seven, MBU not only came back to win, but did it in amazing fashion.
The Spartans scored two runs in the third inning and was held scoreless until the seventh. Park, on the other hand, posted three runs in the bottom of the third and was just one out away from the team's first conference win of the year.
With two outs and no one on, Missouri Baptist exploded for seven runs to nail-down a 9-3 win. Pier Olivier-Dostaler singled in the tying run before Jo Jo Taylor hit a three-run homerun to give MBU a three run lead. Just minutes later, Kyle Turner hit a solo shot of his own.
The top of the order came up big for Missouri Baptist in the game. The first three batters (Patrick Johnson, Dostaler, and Taylor) combined for seven of the team's 12 hits in the game. Dostaler went 3-4 in the game with one RBI.
Ethan Gibbons was the winner in the first game. The senior pitched a complete game and gave up just three runs. Gibbons is now 3-0 on the year and has a 2.89 ERA.
In game two, the Spartans started just where they left off in game one. Two runs crossed the plate for MBU in the first inning, which proved to be the difference in the game.
Kyle Turner had another big game for Missouri Baptist in the win. The senior went 2-4 in with two RBI and a stolen base. Ricky Pagan went 2-5 and drove in three runs of his own while Patrick Johnson went 2-3 with one RBI and a stolen base.
As good as the hitting was in the second game, the pitching was really the difference. Chris Walker threw seven innings of shutout baseball and allowed just two hits. Walker seemed to be getting stronger as the game went along. He struck out eight batters in his outing, four of which came in his final two innings of work.
Jacob Eichorn entered the game and provided two innings of relief. He allowed three hits and one earned run to preserve the win. Park's Nicholas Martinez allowed four runs in two and a third innings with four walks.
Missouri Baptist is now 9-5 on the year and is a perfect 3-0 in conference play this season. The team will play the final two games of the four-game series on Saturday beginning at noon.
