ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE G1] [BOX SCORE G2] Missouri Baptist baseball posted 10 runs in two games against Lyon College, but split Tuesday's doubleheader with a 7-3 win and a 4-3 loss in extra innings.
Missouri Baptist (24-5, 9-2 AMC) began the day with a big win thanks to another strong outing by Spartan starter Brandon Zywicki. The junior went the distance and collected his third complete game of the season.
Missouri Baptist didn't struggle in the runs department as the team took an early 1-0 lead and continued to post runs throughout the game. The Spartans also scored two in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the seventh to secure another American Midwest Conference series win in 2014.
Josh Fuentes, Enrique Pagan and Vinnie Fresquez all posted multiple hits in the game while Orlando Olivera extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He later extended it to 13 in game two.
In the aforementioned second game, the Spartans jumped-out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, but fell behind 3-2 after giving-up one run in the third and two in the fifth. After posting the game-tying run in the top of the eighth off a fielding error by Billy Kittrell, the contest went to extra innings to decide the winner.
From the time that Missouri Baptist tied the game, the team only recorded one base runner as the Spartans went 1-2-3 in both the 10th and the 11th. The Scots, on the other hand, had timely hits in the game, especially in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Wesley Roberson doubled to lead-off the final inning, and after a costly error by Missouri Baptist, there were runners at first and second with no outs. Lyon's Joe Campbell grounded-out, but advanced the runners in the process to put two runners in scoring position with just one out.
An intentional walk loaded the bases and put the double play back in order, but Colt Harmon ended the game with a fielder's choice to first base to win the game for the Scots.
Missouri Baptist will now head to Paducah, Ky., on Friday for its next AMC series against Mid-Continent University. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Brooks Stadium.
Just after the game ended, the NAIA released the first regular season edition of the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll. In the preseason edition, Missouri Baptist was ranked No. 4 in the nation and in Tuesday's poll, the team stayed put after a 22-4 start. Faulkner University (Ala.), Oklahoma Baptist University and Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) placed first through third in that order while San Diego Christian (Calif.) rounded-out the top five.
