ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist baseball was tied through five innings on Saturday with first place in the American Midwest Conference on the line. The Spartans were unable to grab the late lead, however, and fell to the Freed-Hardeman Lions (Tenn.) 5-2.

Missouri Baptist (32-8, 17-3 AMC) tied the game at one in the first inning, but the Lions continued to pressure the Spartan pitching staff. Spartan starter Michael Yarborough tossed five and two-thirds innings and allowed three runs on nine hits and recorded six strikeouts on the day.

Jeff Smith led-off with a double and came around to score after Eli Roundtree came to the plate. The Spartan right fielder hit an RBI single down the right field line and tied the ball game.

The Spartans took the lead in the third, thanks once again, to some big offense by Roundtree. The Milwaukee, Wis., native slugged a double to start the inning and scored on a Tim Cusick single to put the home team up 2-1. This was, however, the final time the Spartans led on the day.

The Lions posted single runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth and took down the Spartans to grab sole possession of first place in the AMC.

Missouri Baptist was led by Jeff Smith and Eli Roundtree. Smith finished 2-4 on the day while Roundtree went 2-5 with an RBI.

Freed-Hardeman's Nolan Huber was outstanding in this one. The Lion starting pitcher went the distance on Saturday and allowed two runs on nine hits with five strikeouts.

Missouri Baptist will head to Harris-Stowe on Monday and to Missouri Valley on Tuesday prior to its final conference weekend of the season in a week against William Woods (Mo.). First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Spartan Field.