ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Tim Cusick wanted to enter the 2015 American Midwest Conference Tournament with authority. The big first baseman led that charge on Tuesday with a grand slam in the bottom of the first and led the Spartans to a 9-3 win.

Missouri Baptist (36-10, 17-9 AMC) got a big first inning and slowly built on it while a bullpen by committee helped to keep the Spartans ahead.

Colby Duncan got the nod in the first inning and kept it scoreless through two innings. Chris Cordova did the same in the third before Brandon Zywicki entered in the fourth and allowed a two-run home run to Jonathan Alvarez. This was the Hornet catcher's first of two long balls on the day, as he hit his second in the top of the sixth.

Up 6-2, MBU put-up another run in the bottom of the fifth. Orlando Olivera ripped his team-leading fifth home run of the year as the Spartans cruised to the win.

The Spartans will now enter the American Midwest Conference as the No. 4-seed and will play the No. 5-seeded Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill.