ST. LOUIS – [Game 1 Box Score] [Game 2 Box Score] This week has featured four gut-wrenching games for the Missouri Baptist softball team, and tonight was no different. The Spartans dropped both games of a doubleheader tonight against Park University, 4-3 and 8-5. The losses drop the Spartans to 5th place in the AMC standings.

It took eight innings for the Pirates to take their first lead of the game in the first contest. Missouri Baptist (23-16, 11-5 AMC) scored two runs in the 3^rd to take a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates (30-8, 16-4 AMC) cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the 4^th, 2-1 Spartans.

Missouri Baptist added an insurance run in the top of the 7^th when pinch hitter Donyelle DeMarse roped an RBI double.

Park ripped the victory right out of the Spartans hands when they tied the contest with two runs in the bottom of the 7^th.

In the bottom of the 8^th inning, the Pirates walked off with a single to win the game 4-3.

Andrea Chessor was charged with the loss. She went 7.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on eight hits. The freshman struck out four, walked zero, and hit one batter.

The Spartans had just five hits in game one. DeMarse went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a double. Amanda Williams (1-for-3), Payton Anderson (1-for-4), Sierra Thompson (1-for-4), and Kelsey Snider (1-for-3, run scored, stolen base) all had hits in the game.

In game two, the Spartans returned the late inning drama favor. After taking a 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the 3^rd, Park answered with three runs in the 5^th and two more in the 6^th.

Missouri Baptist sent the game into extras with two runs in the bottom of the 7^th to tie the game at 5-5.

Neither team could manufacture a run in the 8^th or 9^th inning, but the Pirates took over in the 10^th frame. Park scored three runs in the top of the inning to take a commanding 8-5 lead, a lead that the Spartans could not overcome.

Jena Trombley was charged with the loss. She gave up eight runs, five earned, on eight hits over 10.0 innings. The junior struck out one and walked two.

The Spartans stroked nine hits in the contest and were led by Payton Anderson. She went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles. Mackenzie Friedly went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, a double, and walked twice. Brittany Edelen went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. Deanna Peters also had two hits, going 2-for-5. Mariah Randazzo was the other Spartan to record a hit. She went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.

Missouri Baptist, who dropped to fourth place in the American Midwest Conference, travels to William Woods on Saturday. The Owls stand at the top of the conference standings with a 14-2 AMC record. The Spartans are 1-5 against teams ahead of them in the standings, and have played in four-straight extra inning games.