ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist baseball came-up just short in the first of a doubleheader on Friday, but put together a big offensive effort in the bottom of the sixth of game two. Though the team dropped the first, 6-5 in extra innings, the team rallied to take game two against Freed-Hardeman 5-4.

Missouri Baptist (32-7, 15-6 AMC) trailed by one after one inning in game one as Ethan Mayberry reached on an error to put the first runner aboard in the first. The Lion designated hitter came around to score later in the inning as Freed-Hardeman took the early lead.

After the Lions extended the lead to 2-0 in the third, the Spartans tied the ball game thanks to a fortunate catcher's interference call, which negated the third out of the inning. Instead, Tim Cusick reached first and allowed Hector Candelaria to bat with the bases loaded.

The Spartan catcher drove a 3-2 pitch to right field, which scored Tyler Greminger and Orlando Olivera, and tied the game at two.

Freed-Hardeman took full advantage of two early walks in the top of the fifth to rebuild its lead. The Lions' Bobby Seda singled home the first of three runs in the top-half and helped to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage. This advantage, however, was short lived.

Eli Roundtree came to the plate with two on and two out and delivered the biggest hit of the game for the Spartans. The right fielder drilled a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center to tie the game at five.

The game went to extras, but the Spartans were unable to fend-off the Lions in the eighth. A base hit, a walk, and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Zac Carter. The left fielder hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which proved to be the game winner.

Dave Mullins started the game for Missouri Baptist, but received a no-decision as Marcus Crescentini was tagged with the loss.

In the second game of the day, timely hits and a big sixth inning was pivotal to the Spartan win.

Ryan Stapp got the nod in the finale and pitched a gem through five innings. The Bakersfield, Calif., native no-hit the Lions through the first five, but a big offensive effort by Freed-Hardeman in the sixth turned the game on a dime.

Brent Zimmerman put the Spartans on the board in the bottom of the first. The shortstop teed-off on a 1-1 pitch and sent the ball over the left field wall to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Eli Roundtree helped to put the home team up by a pair in the fourth. After an Orlando Olivera walk, Roundtree hit an RBI double to left field and gave his team a 2-0 lead.

A walk, a stolen base and two consecutive groundouts helped post the first Lion run in the fifth, but the real fireworks came in the sixth.

J.C. Daily led-off with a single, the first of the game for Freed-Hardeman, and started a big inning for the visitors. Argenis Salazer and Bobby Seda both recorded RBI singles and drove-in three runs to give the Lions a 4-2 lead.

Missouri Baptist answered in a big way in the bottom-half of the sixth. Zimmerman and Olivera walked and advanced on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with no outs. Eli Roundtree walked as well to load the bases and put the lead run at first.

Tim Cusick followed Roundtree and delivered a blow to the Lions. The Spartan first baseman hit a two RBI double down the right field line and tied the ball game at four. Brian Poupore followed with a single up the middle, the hit that became the game winner.

Marcus Crescentini entered in the top of the seventh and earned his ninth save of the season as the Spartans tied the series at one-all.

Missouri Baptist will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Spartan Field.