SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Missouri Baptist baseball let a another lead slip away late in Monday's game against Benedictine-Springfield and dropped its second game of the day, 9-3.
Missouri Baptist (31-11, 24-4) posted two runs in the second and one in the fifth, but blew a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth. The Bulldogs amassed seven runs in the inning, four unearned, as MBU had difficulty in the field.
Chris Kenney relieved Nathan Utt after six and a third innings. Utt surrendered two runs on four hits with six strikeouts, but left the game with bases loaded and one out. Kenney allowed Utt's second run to cross the plate on a single to the left field wall just out of the reach of Ryan Clarke.
The Benedictine-Springfield seventh inning was what put the game away for the Bulldogs. Designated hitter Sean Fitzgerald hit a three-run double in the inning and finished the game 2-4 with three RBI. Missouri Baptist used four pitchers in the inning.
The Bulldog pitching kept the Spartans off-balance all night. Starting pitcher Josh Glick went seven and a third and allowed two earned runs in this outing.
The loss will send Missouri Baptist home to await its fate, which is in the hands of the NAIA. Next week, National Championship Opening Round Qualifiers and seeding will be announced.
