Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist held a two-run lead twice on Tuesday against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the Opening Round of the NAIA Baseball National Championship. The Spartans posted four runs in the eighth and held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom-half of the final two innings to post a 6-4 win in the first game of the tournament.
Missouri Baptist (42-11) pulled ahead by a run in the fifth, as the game remained scoreless through four innings. Michael Yarborough and Joey Fitzgerald entered into a pitchers duel on Tuesday as both starters held its opponent to no runs on three hits through four innings.
As Yarborough's outing continued, however, a slight lower-body injury began to plague the hurler, which led to his removal after five and one-third innings pitched. The right-handed pitcher allowed just two runs in his outing, but was tagged with the no-decision after the Tigers put together consecutive two-run innings in the sixth and seventh.
The Spartans broke through in the top of the fifth on an error by the Tigers' starter Fitzgerald. Dakota Wesleyan's starting pitcher bobbled a ball hit by Jeff Smith, which scored Brian Poupore from third, and broke the tie.
Missouri Baptist increased its lead in the sixth. Orlando Olivera doubled to lead-off the inning and came around to score moments later. Tim Cusick lifted a ball into right field, which allowed Olivera to score on the sacrifice fly, and made it 2-0 after five and a half.
The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the inning after a pair of doubles plagued the Spartans. Tyler Waddle and Neil Nagle both doubled in the inning, which allowed two to cross the plate, and tied the game at two apiece.
Dakota Wesleyan made it 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh. Austin Calhoon started the hit parade for the Tigers and singled to lead things off in the inning. DWU recorded two singles and a double before the first out was recorded and put the pressure squarely back on the Spartans' shoulders.
MBU needed a big inning with the bats and got it in the top of the eighth. Brian Poupore hit a two-RBI single with the bases loaded to give Missouri Baptist a 5-4 lead on the way to a big inning.
Marcus Crescentini entered the game in the ninth and struggled with control early after he struck-out the first batter. The MBU closer hit the next two batters, including a 92 MPH fastball that broke Tyler Johnson's helmet. It was after this point that things started to calm down.
Crescentini struck-out the final two batters to preserve the win. He also recorded his 12th save of the season in the process.
Missouri Baptist will now gear-up for a evening showdown against the No. 1 team in the nation, Oklahoma City University. The winner of the nightcap will play at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday while the loser will play in an elimination game on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. against the loser of the game one on Wednesday.
