Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist Baseball needed all nine innings to tie it and a few more to win it on Tuesday. Down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Spartans tied the game, and won it in the 13th in a 5-4 win over Midland (Neb.).
Missouri Baptist (21-6, 8-1 AMC) played smart baseball on Tuesday in a non-conference game against Midland. Both squads entered on their own winning streaks, but thanks to a big rally in the ninth, the Spartans exited with the opportunity to win it in the 13th.
Midland scored the games' first four runs, two of which were unearned in the second.
In the first, the Warriors put together a solid offensive effort led by Deven Ralston. The first baseman led-off with a single and later scored thanks to a Zach Belanger RBI single to make it 1-0.
The Spartans saw it get to 3-0 in the second after two consecutive errors gave the Warriors two insurance runs. These, in fact, would become big in the game.
Down 4-0, Missouri Baptist made its first push to get back into it in the bottom of the third. With just one out, Tim Hergert was hit by a pitch, one of four hit batsmen by Warriors' starter Justin Meyer, to put things in motion for the Spartan offense.
After a Culver Plant single, Brian Poupore came through with the game's biggest hit to that point for the home team. The center fielder delivered a two-RBI double to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Poupore entered the game tied for the MBU hit streak record, and on that double, became the new record holder with hits in 21 consecutive games.
No runs crossed the plate again until the bottom of the ninth as Spartan starter Bobby Evans pitched outstanding. The hurler tossed six innings and allowed just one earned as he shut-down the Warrior offense in his final three innings of work. Jake Triulzi, Austin Sweet and Isaya Vysotsky took the reigns in relief and continued the shut-out trend for the remaining seven innings.
The Spartans put the crowd on its feet in the ninth with an impressive comeback. With the bases loaded, Josh Miguel delivered in the clutch for Missouri Baptist. The junior lined a single into right field, which scored Jared Hagley and Tyler Greminger, and sent the game to extras.
In the 13th, things began to turn in the Spartan's favor. With Brian Poupore standing on second, Greminger advanced to first on a dropped third strike and a wild throw to put the game-winning run aboard. An intentional walk to Hagley loaded the bases for Brandon Schlichtig with the game on the line.
The Spartan first baseman delivered thanks to his patience at the plate. Midland's A.J Discenzo walked Schlictig as the winning run crossed the plate in a wild one at Spartan Baseball Field.
Poupore led the Spartan offense on the day. The senior went 2-6 with two RBI in his record-setting performance.
The Spartans will next head to Sauget, Ill., on Friday to take-on American Midwest Conference opponent Lindenwood University-Belleville (Ill.).
