Box Score ST. LOUIS – [Box Score] The 2015 campaign came to a close today, as the Missouri Baptist softball team fell to Freed-Hardeman in the American Midwest Conference tournament. After tying the game in the 4th inning, the Spartans fell to the Lions, 8-2.
Missouri Baptist (27-16) found themselves in a 2-0 hole in the first inning, as Freed-Hardeman scored two runs on five hits.
As the Lady Lions began to get comfortable with the lead, the Spartans began to chip at the deficit. In the bottom of the 2nd, freshman Lexi Gray cracked a solo shot to center, her fourth long ball of the season. Kara Pochon and Mariah Randazzo followed with back-to-back two-out singles, but the Spartans could not get the equalizer.
Missouri Baptist finally got even in the bottom of the 4th. Gray led off the inning with a double to deep right-center and would score three batters later, when Randazzo singled to center with two outs. Kelsey Snider followed with an infield single, but MBU was held to just one run.
Freed-Hardeman pounced on Andrea Chessor in the 6th. After a leadoff single by Lauren Bradley, Chessor retired the next two batters, but an MBU error allowed the inning to continue. The Lady Lions exploded for five runs in the inning and took control with a 7-2 lead.
FHU added another run on two hits in the top of the 7th to extend the lead to 8-2.
The Spartans were unable to muster a comeback and the final score stayed at 8-2 in favor of the Lady Lions.
Lexi Gray led the offense with two hits in three at-bats. She scored twice, doubled once, and added a home run.
Kara Pochon and Mariah Randazzo each added two hits. Randazzo had the other RBI for MBU.
Andrea Chessor was charged with the loss. The starting pitcher gave up seven runs, two earned, on 12 hits over 6.0 innings. She tallied four strikeouts and hit a batter.
Stay tuned to www.mbuspartans.com for the announcement of the All-Conference team.
