Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] For the first time this season, Missouri Baptist baseball is struggling through adversity during the conference schedule. The Spartans held a lead in both the ninth and 12th innings against Park (Mo.) on Saturday but could not hold on in a 7-6 loss in 12 innings.
Missouri Baptist (24-4, 10-3 AMC) jumped-out to a quick two run lead in the first inning. Brent Zimmerman and Orlando Olivera singled with one out and Eli Roundtree walked to load the bases.
Aaron Pangilinan came to the plate and nearly hit into a double play, but a costly throwing error by shortstop Ethan Smith allowed two Spartan runs to score.
Park came back in the bottom-half and posted a run of its own. Blake Sellers led-off with a single and came around to score minutes later on an RBI double by Christian Torres to make it a 2-1 ball game.
The Pirates continued its momentum in the second inning. Park posted three consecutive singles to start the inning, which was capped-off by Cody Malloy's RBI single to tie the game at two.
Missouri Baptist regained the lead in the top of the third as Pangilinan came through yet again. The Spartan first baseman sent an RBI single through the hole at short and put MBU up 3-2. The lead, however, was short-lived.
Park posted two runs in the bottom of the third on the game's only home run. Christian Torres continued a big weekend with a two-run shot to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
The Spartans tied the game again in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Brent Zimmerman. The MBU shortstop placed a ball up the middle to score Jake Rhodes and tied the game at four.
Missouri Baptist grabbed a one-run lead in the ninth, but was unable to hold-on. Pangilinan hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored Olivera, and gave MBU a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Pirates put together another thrilling inning and sent the game to extra innings. Spartan closer Marcus Crescentini entered the game and struck out the first two batters he faced, but had issues as the inning progressed.
Crescentini allowed a walk, a single, and two more walks, which allowed the game-tying run to cross the plate.
The Spartans grabbed the lead again in the 12th thanks to a big RBI by Hector Candelaria. The MBU catcher grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed pinch runner Jake Triulzi to score, and made it a 6-5 lead.
With the game on the line, the Pirates put together another memorable comeback inning and pillaged a win away from Missouri Baptist. A throwing error and a wild pitch scored both runs as Missouri Baptist dropped its first conference series of the season.
Orlando Olivera continued his assault on NAIA pitching on Saturday. The left fielder went 4-6 in the game and raised his batting average to .439 on the season.
Missouri Baptist will now return home on Tuesday to face Culver-Stockton College in a single, nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Spartan Field.
