Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – [BOX SCORE] The Missouri Baptist Spartans were shut out for 10 innings on Tuesday in the final game of day one in the Oklahoma City Bracket at the 2015 NAIA National Championship Opening Round. This, however, did not stop them from taking down the No. 3-ranked team in the NAIA. MBU loaded the bases and recorded a walk-off win on a hit batsman in the bottom of the 13th inning to advance in the winner's bracket with a win over Oklahoma City, 5-4.
Missouri Baptist (43-11) trailed after the top of the first, but posted three runs in the bottom of the inning to take an early 3-1 lead. They extended that advantage to 4-1 with a run in the bottom of the second, but the offense stalled from this point forward. The Stars posted three runs in the top of the fourth, which were the final runs scored until the bottom of the 13th.
Oklahoma City sent Carlos Chavez to the hill, but the junior hurler struggled early. The Sooner Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference selection walked three batters in the bottom of the first and eight on the night, but managed to right the ship. He allowed Missouri Baptist three earned runs on three hits, but walked eight batters and recorded 10 strikeouts.
The Spartans countered with Dave Mullins, who was equally brilliant in his own right. The lefty tossed seven and one-third innings and allowed just three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Reggie Wilson led-off for the Stars in the top of the first with a double that squeaked by over the bag on the right field line. Wilson later scored after catcher Dylan Delso doubled two batters later.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, MBU jumped all over OCU and capitalized on three walks issued by Chavez. Brent Zimmerman and Orlando Olivera both walked with one out, and after the second strikeout by the Stars' starter, Aaron Pangilinan walked to load the bases.
Tim Cusick came to the plate and hit a slow roller just halfway down the third base line, which scored Zimmerman, and tied the game at one.
It was at this point that one of the strangest plays of the game occurred. With two out, Brian Poupore struck out, but the dropped third strike by Delso caused confusion for the Stars defense. The alert MBU base runners took advantage of the situation and took off. Both Olivera and Pangilinan headed home while the OCU catcher bobbled the ball and put two more on the board. On the same play, it was Poupore who beat the throw down at first base, thus negating the final out and extended the inning.
Chavez allowed three more walks in the second and the Spartans cashed-in yet again. Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Jared Hagley (the courtesy runner for Hector Candelaria), and made it 4-1 MBU.
Oklahoma City's bats came alive in the top of the fourth and tied the game at four. Delso and Jared Baker both led-off the inning with singles and both scored on the next hit. J.J. Bissell recorded a two-RBI double down the right field line to cut the Spartan lead to 4-3.
Adam Clark came to the plate with one out and the tying run at third when another odd play occurred. As Clark was reaching-out to put down a bunt, he got tangled-up with MBU catcher Hector Candelaria as Bissell hustled down the line to cross the plate. The umpires got together to discuss the play and when the dust settled, catcher's interference was called. The result was that Clark was awarded first base and the run scored.
With a 4-4 tie, the game extended into the night through twists and turns. The Stars turned to Holden Lyons while MBU looked to Marcus Crescentini to hold the game beginning in the 10th inning.
While both were outstanding in their respective outing, it was Crescentini who came out on top. The Spartan closer posted seven strikeouts in four innings of work and led his team to the win as the game progressed. It was the longest outing of his Missouri Baptist career.
Lyons continued to work himself out of jams all night, but after a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 13thinning put runners at second and third with just one out, the sophomore ran out of gas. An intentional walk loaded the bases and put Brian Poupore at the plate with a chance to win it.
With the bases loaded, Lyons hit Poupore in the left arm and ended the game abruptly in favor of the underdog Spartans.
Missouri Baptist is now 2-0 in Opening Round play and 5-0 against teams ranked in the top three of the NAIA this season. The Spartans will now play on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. against No. 19 Concordia (Calif.) for a chance to head to the title game in the Oklahoma City bracket.
Rain is in the forecast on Wednesday, so keep an eye on MBUSpartans.com throughout the day for updates.
