SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist University took the first game of the American Midwest Conference tournament over the Hannibal La-Grange Trojans by a score of 4-3.
Tournament time meant a clean slate, as Hannibal-LaGrange sent Stephen Schneiders to the mound without a win to his credit so far this season. Schneiders impressed, as he tossed six innings, allowing only two runs on five hits.
Missouri Baptist (43-10, 22-5 AMC) took the lead early as with a run in the bottom of the third off a sacrifice fly from Erik Garcia. The catcher drove-in two runs, both on sacrifice flys.
HLG responded, however. The Trojans took the lead by posting runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh. One of the biggest hits on the day came from clean-up hitter Edwin Dominguez with a double off the glove of Spartan center fielder Trevin Craig, which scored a run.
The Spartans did not waiver. In the bottom of the seventh, Garcia drove in another run on his aforementioned sacrifice fly, drawing the lead within one.
After a shutout inning in the top of the eighth by reliever Carl Jameson, the Spartans came out swinging. Josh Fuentes started things with a walk, followed up by a line drive double into the left-center gap by Orlando Olivera.
Eli Roundtree provided another key hit just moments later. The right fielder ripped a single into right, scoring Fuentes, and tied the game. Three batters later, Jeff Smith made the biggest impact for the Spartans thus far in the tournament. The second baseman roped a ball into left field, which scored the go-ahead run, with two outs. This turned-out to be the difference in the ball game.
After MBU grabbed the lead, the game was put into the hands of reliever Carl Jameson to finish it off. He faced four batters and allowed one hit before recording the final out to wrap up the opening game.
Spartan starter Brandon Zywicki threw seven innings, gave up four hits, and two earned runs (one unearned). He remains undefeated (11-0) on the year as he received the no-decision.
Missouri Baptist is set to face the winner of Freed-Hardeman and Benedictine University-Springfield at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2.
