ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE 1] [BOX SCORE 2] The Spartans led for the first 12 innings against Williams Baptist, the top team in the American Midwest Conference, before settling for a doubleheader split. Andrea Chessor dominated on the mound in MBU's 1-0 win in game one. The Eagles erased an early deficit and defeated the Spartans 3-2 in the second game.

Chessor tossed a complete game shutout to earn her ninth victory of the season in the opener. She scattered four hits in her seven innings of work and kept Williams Baptist (20-10, 11-3) off the scoreboard. The Spartans (16-14, 5-3) struggled offensively as well, but received a huge hit from Jenny Sparks in the second.

Rachel Garcia walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Chessor. Then with two away, Sparks went to the opposite field for a hit to score Garcia and give MBU the only run of the game. The Spartans only had one other hit in the game against Eagles pitcher Rylee Rogers.

Chessor twice stranded a runner at third base in the first three innings. She also initiated a groundout to win the game with the tying run at second base.

MBU rode the momentum from the big win into the early parts of the second game. Cierra Liddick took the mound and kept the Eagles scoreless through four innings, while the Spartans used the second inning again to take a lead.

Meagan Elder singled to start the inning and her pinch runner Sarah Strothkamp advanced to second on a sacrifice. A base hit by Deanna Peters put runners at second and third with one away. The next batter popped up, but then Chloe Jennings delivered a huge two-RBI single to put the Spartans ahead 2-0.

Ashley Lyons cut the deficit in half when she homered in the fifth to make it a 2-1 game. The game remained that way until the sixth inning when the Eagles took the lead on a Spartan miscue. Two of the first three batters reached before a groundout put runners at second and third with two outs. Chessor came in to pitch and popped the next batter, Molleigh Gray, up on the infield, but the ball was dropped allowing both runs to score.

The Eagles held onto that 3-2 lead throughout, but the Spartans made things interesting in the seventh. The tying run got to third base with two outs for Pam Diaz, but Rogers got her to strikeout to end the game. Rogers pitched all 13 innings for the Eagles on the day, only allowing six hits. Liddick took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in 5.1 innings of work.

The Spartans continue conference play tomorrow when they take on Freed-Hardeman at home. First pitch is set for 12:00 pm.