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Box Score 2 ST. LOUIS – [Game One Box] [Game Two Box] The Missouri Baptist softball team turned a heart-breaking loss in game one into a doubleheader loss against Freed-Hardeman. The Spartans dropped game one, 8-7 in walk-off fashion, and were defeated 9-1 in five innings in game two.
In game one, the Spartans (6-8, 3-3 AMC) jumped to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the 3rd inning. Freshman Lexi Gray led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Kelsey Snider. The hottest hitter as of late, Corey Pitchford, hammered a double to left-center, scoring pinch-runner Pam Diaz. With the bases loaded and two out, sophomore Andrea Chessor drew a walk, which scored Pitchford. That gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
MBU followed with a one run on two hits in the 4th inning. Dee Dee Peters roped a single to shallow center to begin the inning. She moved to second on a passed ball and scampered to third on Diaz's sac bunt. Two batters later, Pitchford collected her second hit of the game, this time an RBI single that did not leave the infield.
Freed-Hardeman answered with four runs on four hits and two MBU errors in the 4th.
Mikala Torrence led off the top of the 5th with a double to left-center and moved to third on Kara Pochon's fly out to straight-away center. Chessor picked-up her second RBI of the game on a ground out to short, which tied the game as Torrence came home.
The Lions took a 5-4 lead in the 6th, thanks to a hit and another MBU error.
With the Spartans down to the final three outs of the game, they put together a fierce comeback. Torrence reached on a one-out walk and moved to second on Pochon's single to left-center. Chessor blasted a double to deep left-center, which scored both runs and gave MBU a 6-5 lead. Chessor moved to third on the wild throw to the plate and scored on another error during the sequence. That extended the lead to 7-5.
The Lions gave the Spartans a taste of their own medicine, scoring three runs on three hits and earned the victory in walk-off fashion. It would be the second consecutive walk-off loss for the Spartans. Missouri Baptist won three straight games by the walk-off variety earlier in the season.
Andrea Chessor took the loss for the Spartans. She gave up two earned runs on three hits in 0.1 innings of work.
Starter Jena Trombley did not factor into the decision. She tossed 4.0 innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits. She walked a season-high five batters in the game.
Freshman Nicole Hughes allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit in 2.0 innings.
Corey Pitchford and Andrea Chessor led the Spartans at the plate. Pitchford posted three hits in four at-bats, one a double, and drove in two RBI. She added six putouts and one assist.
Chessor had just one hit, but recorded a run scored and three RBI with one double.
Kara Pochon added two hits in four at-bats and scored once.
In game two, the Lions transferred the momentum from game one with two runs in the first inning off of starter Andrea Chessor. Freed-Hardeman poked two hits in the inning, including an RBI triple.
Freed-Hardeman extended the lead to 5-0 with three runs in the 3rd inning. The Lion 3-hitter and arguably the most dangerous hitter in the American Midwest Conference, Kamara Trice bombed a 3-run home run in the inning. It was her eighth homer of the season. The Spartans intentionally walked her four times in game one.
Missouri Baptist got a run back in the 4th when Dee Dee Peters smacked a single to shallow left, which scored Mariah Randazzo.
The Lions made quick work of the Spartans with four runs in the 5th, which made the final score 9-1. It was the first short-game of the season for the Spartans.
Andrea Chessor took the loss for MBU. She allowed five earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. She struck out a batter and hit one batter.
Freshman Madison Calvert gave up the four runs of the game on seven hits in 2.1 innings.
Donyelle DeMarse led the Spartans at the plate, going 2-for-2.
Dee Dee Peters drove in the lone RBI on her one hit in the game.
Missouri Baptist will look to end the four-game skid with a doubleheader against Park. The Pirates are undefeated in AMC play this season.
