ST. LOUIS – [Game 1 Box Score] After falling in dramatic fashion in game one, the Missouri Baptist softball team rebounded to pick up a huge split with the Columbia Cougars in game two. The Spartans fell in game one, 7-6, before winning on a walk-off single in game two by the same score.

Missouri Baptist (23-14, 11-3) ended its 10-game conference winning streak with the tough loss in game one.

Andrea Chessor was pegged with the loss in the circle. The freshman tossed 6.2 innings, gave up 11 hits and seven earned runs. She struck out four and walked three in the game.

The Cougars jumped on the board in the 1^st with three runs on four hits. Chessor was able to calm down and record three straight outs to end the inning, preventing any further damage.

Mackenzie Friedly got things started in the top of the 3^rd, as she was drilled by a pitch with one out. Mariah Randazzo followed with a double, which moved Friedly to third. Payton Anderson came through with two outs in the inning by lacing a double to right field, cutting the Columbia lead to 3-2.

The Spartans had a chance at taking the lead in the top of the 5^th, put were hit with some tough luck. After Amanda Williams and Anderson singled, Sierra Thompson reached on an error to load the bases with two outs, Corey Pitchford hit a ground ball to short. Pinch runner Chelsea Crain was called out for interfering with the shortstop, which ended the scoring threat.

In the bottom of the 5^th, the Cougars extended their lead after a solo home run, a triple, and a single. Columbia held a 5-2 lead after five innings.

Missouri Baptist would not go down with a fight, and proved that in the top of the 6^th. Andrea Chessor led off the inning with an infield single. Brittany Edelen followed with another infield single, putting runners on first and second with no one out. Mackenzie Friedly laid down a sac bunt to move the runners over but the Columbia fielder bobbled the ball, resulting in everyone being safe. Randazzo took that momentum and roped a single to center, which moved each runner up a base. Amanda Williams welcomed the new Columbia pitcher into the game by smacking a single to left, which moved all three runners up a base. The Cougar outfielder misplayed the ball, which allowed Randazzo to score. That gave the Spartans their first lead of the game at 6-5, still nobody out. Anderson kept things going by smacking a single to center and moving Williams to third. With runners on first and third with nobody out, Kelsey Snider hit a sharp ground ball to third. She would be thrown out at first for the first out. Williams, who went home on the play, slid in what looked to be safely, but the umpire ruled that she was tagged out. Anderson then got caught in a rundown and would be tagged out, resulting in a rare triple play.

In the bottom of the 7^th with the Spartans up 6-5, the Cougars sprung into action. They tied the game up at 6-6 on a sac fly and head coach Craig Walston intentionally walked the next two batters to set up force outs at each base. Chessor induced a groundball, which the Spartans were able to cut down the winning run at the plate, but that still loaded the bases with two outs. Chessor struck out the final batter of the inning, but the ball scooted away from the MBU catcher, allowing the winning run to cross home plate. The Cougars would walk away with a 7-6 victory.

Payton Anderson led MBU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Mariah Randazzo went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a double. Amanda Williams was the other play to rope multiple hits, as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

In game two, the Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 2^nd.

The Spartans answered with six runs in the bottom of the 3^rd on seven hits. Edelen laced a one-out single to get things going. Kelsey Snider followed with a single, put the Cougars were able to get the second out of the inning on a fly out. That is when the Spartans worked a lot of two-out magic. Payton Anderson smacked a two RBI double, tying the game at 2-2. Amanda Williams followed with a carbon copy double, plating Anderson. Sierra Thompson then roped a single to score Williams, giving MBU a 4-2 lead. Corey Pitchford smacked the Spartans third double of the inning, which scored Thompson. Deanna Peters roped the fifth-straight hit in the inning for MBU, allowing Pitchford to score. That gave MBU a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 3^rd.

The Cougars got to MBU starter Jena Trombley in the top of the 4^th. Four consecutive singles by Columbia shrunk the MBU lead to 6-4 and head coach was forced to bring in game one starter Andrea Chessor to pitch. She recorded a pop out and a strikeout to begin her inning, but then walked the bases loaded and hit a batter to bring in a run. Missouri Baptist would hold on to a 6-5 lead at the end of the inning.

Columbia would tie the game in the top of the 6^th after a double and a single off of Chessor.

Chessor would get revenge in the bottom of the 7^th. Williams led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt by Thompson. The scoring threat seemed to end when Columbia got the second out of the inning on a strikeout looking, but Deanna Peters kept things going when she reached after being hit. With two outs and the winning run on second, Chessor laced a walk off single up the middle, plating pinch runner Chelsea Crain.

Anderson led MBU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and two RBI. Kelsey Snider went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Thompson went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Chessor went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI. She also earned the win in the circle. She tossed 4.0 innings, gave up one earned run, struck out two, and gave up four hits.

The Spartans improved to 11-3 in AMC play and 23-14 overall with the win.

Missouri Baptist will travel to Parkville, Mo. to take on Park University on Friday. First pitch is set for 2 pm. The Pirates are 14-4 in conference play and one spot ahead of the Spartans.