ST. LOUIS – [Box Score] Senior Corey Pitchford went 3-for-3 to lead the Missouri Baptist softball team to an upset victory over No. 2-seed Park, 5-4, in the Opening Round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament. The Spartans will play at 3:00 pm against the winner of No. 3 Lyon and No. 6 Columbia.

Missouri Baptist (27-14) came into the contest with two victories over the Pirates this season, but needed a major spark to earn the win.

The Spartans set the tone early, as leadoff hitter Mikala Torrence began the game with a four-pitch walk. Pitchford roped a single to set-up first and second, but a double play and a fly out kept MBU off the board in the first inning.

Park put a runner on third in the bottom of the 1^st, but starting pitcher Andrea Chessor retired the side unscathed.

Missouri Baptist threatened again in the top of the 2^nd, as Lexi Gray led off the inning by reaching on an error. The Pirates worked around the error by retiring the next three batters.

The designated home team capitalized on two MBU errors in the bottom of the 2^nd. After the Pirates singled home a run, the Spartans seemed to halt the damage with a double play ball, but the Pirates used two more singles to take a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Park scored another run in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to a comfortable 4-0, but the MBU offense took off in the top of the 5^th.

Senior Kelsey Snider reached on a two-out walk to get the rally started. Mikala Torrence followed with a double to deep left-center, which plated the first run of the game for the Spartans. Two pitches later, Pitchford crushed her third home run of the season over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Pirates put two on with no outs in the bottom of the 5^th, but freshman Madison Calvert worked out of the inning without allowing a run.

Freshman Lexi Gray doubled to deep left-center with one out in the 6^th, setting-up favorable conditions for the Spartans. Senior Donyelle DeMarse ripped a pinch-hit single to center, which tied the game as senior Darrian Chrzanoski scored from second.

In the top of the 7^th, the Spartans took control of the contest. Kelsey Snider led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on Mikala Torrence's sac bunt. Pitchford laced her third hit of the contest, double down the left field line, which put the Spartans on top 5-4.

Calvert slammed the door closed in the bottom of the 7^th, securing the 5-4 victory.

The freshman improved to 10-2 on the season with the victory in relief. She tossed 3.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits.

Pitchford led the Spartan offense with a 3-for-3 performance. She drove in three RBI, laced a double, crushed a home run, and walked once.

Lexi Gray went 1-for-3 with a double, while Mikala Torrence went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Donyelle DeMarse went 1-for-1 with an RBI in the contest.

Kelsey Snider did not record a hit in the game, but walked twice and scored twice.

Missouri Baptist will play at 3:00 pm against the winner of No. 3 Lyon and No. 6 Columbia for a spot in the AMC Tournament Semifinals.