INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – [BOX SCORE] No. 3-ranked Missouri Baptist University baseball struggled to get its high-powered offense on track against Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) on Friday evening in an 8-4 loss. It was the first loss in American Midwest Conference play for the Spartans in 2015.

Missouri Baptist (20-2, 6-1 AMC) trailed after one, but tied the game in the fourth inning. Eli Roundtree smacked a one-out triple to left center and Aaron Pangilinan followed with an RBI single to knot it up at one apiece.

The Bulldogs responded with a big fifth inning. Two Spartan errors and back-to-back hits by Drew Johnson and Blake Gand helped the home team grab a 4-1 lead after five.

Benedictine-Springfield continued to hit with authority in the sixth. Dave Mullins was relieved by Michael Murano, but the reliable Spartan reliever found his own struggles on Friday night.  

Murano allowed a leadoff single to Drake Hardin, and the Bulldogs were off to the races once again. Benedictine-Springfield tacked-on four runs (two earned) on four hits in the inning as they extended their lead to 8-1.

The Spartans put together more offense in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, two Bulldog errors led to two runs to make it a five run, 8-3 deficit. Though MBU grabbed another run in the eighth, time ran out as the team fell for the second time this season.

Aaron Pangilinan and Tim Cusick led Missouri Baptist in the night. Both players went 2-4 in the game as Pangilinan recorded an RBI.

Dave Mullins received his first loss of the season after he went five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits.

Bulldog shortstop Chris Day led his team with three hits on the night. Edwin Covas, Drew Johnson and Ben Sigourney also posted solid numbers at the plate. The trio combined for six RBI in the upset.

Missouri Baptist will head back to the diamond on Saturday in a doubleheader to finish the conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Robin Roberts Stadium.