12 STRIKEOUT GAME HIGHLIGHTS MBU BASEBALL SWEEP
ST. LOUIS – [CU BOX SCORE] [USF BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist starting pitcher Michael Yarborough came just four strikeouts shy of tying the Missouri Baptist strikeout record on Friday. His outing led the Spartans to one of the team's two victories on the day, 12-3 and 7-4 against University of Saint Francis and Clarke University, respectively.
Missouri Baptist (9-3) won its eighth game of the season to begin a successful Friday. The Spartans took game one, thanks in-part, to a four-run second inning. MBU posted four in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to secure the win.
Dan Harper continued his torrid pace this season from the plate and drove in two runs on three hits in the game. Brent Zimmerman went 2-3 with three RBI in the game, while Jeff Smith knocked his fourth homerun out of the year. Smith is now tied for second in the NAIA in homeruns this season.
Brandon Zywicki picked-up his third win of the season in the game. The junior tossed 5 and a thirds innings and gave-up four runs on four hits.
In game two, it was all about Michael Yarborough. The Floridian fanned 12 USF batters and allowed just one run on two hits. Yarborough, along with Jacob Eichhorn and Ryan McClaren struck-out 16 batters in the game.
Missouri Baptist scored early and often in game two. The team posted three runs in the third and five in the fifth on the way to the team's ninth win of the year.
Outfielder Eli Roundtree was the standout for the Spartans at the plate against USF. The MBU right fielder went 3-4 with a three-run bomb in the fourth inning, and led the team to a five-run outburst. Roundtree also swiped two bags in the game.
Missouri Baptist has now won its last nine games in a row since dropping its first three games of the season. The team will have two more against Clarke and USF on Saturday before heading back to St. Louis on Saturday evening.
