Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Missouri Baptist baseball wrapped up their three game series against the No.15 ranked Freed-Hardeman Lions on Saturday. After dropping game one on Friday, the Spartans rebounded with two wins in Saturday's doubleheader.

Missouri Baptist (36-11, 19-5 AMC) started the day with a hard fought victory in game one. The Spartans struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Brian Poupore got things started with an RBI double to left, scoring shortstop Tim Hergert from second. Later in the inning, first baseman Mike Levar grounded to second, but scored Culver Plant from third.
 
The Spartans added another pair of runs to their lead in the top of the fifth to go up 4-1. Right fielder Jared Hagely hit an RBI single to left, scoring Poupore. Next batter, Austin Nagamine doubled to left, scoring Hagely.
 
After adding an additional run from another Poupore RBI double in the top of the sixth, the Lions began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth. On a 3-2 count, Lion center fielder Garrett Ferguson hit a two-run home run to left to cut the lead to two.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions tied things up with two more runs. Left fielder Peter Trollinger hit a two-run homerun to right, giving the Lions their second home run of the game.
 
The tie did not last long, as the Spartans offense responded with two home runs of their own and exploded for five runs in the top of the eight inning. Plant hit a two-run home run to left, giving the Spartans the lead for good. Three batters later, designated hitter Austin Rieman hit a three-run home run to create an insurmountable lead.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Jake Triulzi thwarted any chance of another Lion comeback. Freed-Hardeman scored one more run before Triulzi closed out the game, picking up the win.
 
Game two was not nearly as close, as the Spartans offense carried over from game one. Missouri Baptist scored 11 runs in the first five innings before Freed-Hardeman got on the board.
 
In the first inning, right fielder Angel Cruz gave the Spartans their first run with a sac fly to right, scoring Plant from third.
 
Next inning, left fielder Tyler Greminger hit a sac fly to deep left, scoring first baseman Brandon Schlichtig. Later in the inning, second baseman Josh Miguel scored from second off of a wild pitch and an error.
 
The scoring continued in the third inning with three more runs. Poupore hit a solo home run over the left field fence to put the Spartans up 4-0. Later in the inning, Schlichtig hit a home run of his own, launching a two-run shot to left.
 
The Spartans did not let up, scoring three more runs in the top of the fourth. Hergert hit a sac fly to right, scoring Miguel from third. Three batters later, Cruz got his second RBI of the day when he singled to right-center, scoring Poupore from second. Adding to his own RBI total, Schlichtig singled as well, scoring Cruz.
 
Searching for a way to stop the Spartan offense, the Lions put in their third pitcher of the game in the top of the fifth. Missouri Baptist responded with five more hits and two more runs. Greminger started the inning with a triple to right. Next batter, Miguel grounded to third, scoring Greminger. A few batters later, Cruz continued his stellar day, singling to right-center and scoring Plant from third.
 
Spartan starter Patrick Boyle was superb, pitching five innings, only allowing one hit, one run, and striking out six.
 
The Lions ended the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when Trollinger hit his second home run of the day, also ending Boyle's day.
 
After a scoreless top of the sixth, the Spartans resumed their scoring ways with four more runs in the top of the seventh. With one swing of the bat, Hagely scored four runs with a grand slam over the right field fence, scoring Hergert, Plant, and Keck. It was Hagely's first home run of the season.
 
Reliever Drew Montero came in the bottom of the seventh and faced just three batters to close the game out. He closed the game with a line-out and two strikeouts.
 
The Spartans return home Tuesday to face the Missouri Valley Vikings in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.