JAMESTOWN, N.D. – [BOX SCORE] Trusting the process is how the Spartans win in the postseason… They proved it yet again on Tuesday afternoon. In a game that took over three and a half hours to complete, the Spartans tied the game in the seventh and grabbed the lead in the eighth in a thrilling 7-4 win over No. 3-seed Jamestown (N.D.) in the 2016 NAIA National Championship Opening Round Jamestown Bracket.

Missouri Baptist (43-13) trailed for much of the first game of the championship, but scored when it counted the most. Led by two clutch home runs by Mike Levar and Culver Plant, the Spartans stuck around long enough to plate the eventual winning runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.

The Spartans faced the host institution, University of Jamestown, though due to the coin flip prior to the game, Missouri Baptist ended-up the home team on the scoreboard. It was an advantage the team took grasp of against a Jimmies' squad that recorded 50 wins on the year.

Jamestown struck first blood in the top of the second as an error by Jared Hagley in left field allowed the first run of the game to cross the plate. Then, with Jimmies' slugger Landon Utez standing on third base after a wild pitch, Westin Hinkel placed a sacrifice bunt down to score the go-ahead tally to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Missouri Baptist got one back in the bottom-half as Levar took matters into his own hands. The junior from Boone, Colo., crushed a 2-1 mistake from Jamestown starter Tanner Dahl over the wall in right-center and cut the deficit to 2-1.

Levar continued his hot hitting in the fourth as he started the rally to tie the game. The Spartan first-baseman led-off with a single, and scored on an RBI single from Tim Hergert, to even the score at two apiece.

Jamestown did its best to quell the Spartan momentum in the top of the fifth. A wild pitch and an RBI single from Quinn Irey gave the Jimmies a 4-2 lead and a distinct advantage in front of a home crowd.

The Spartans have proven that they have an ability to wear-down good starting pitching and eat-up a bullpen. The team did so yet again on Tuesday.

Jared Hagley, who got the start in left field, did a job at the plate on Tuesday. The senior doubled into the right-center field gap to breathe life back into the Spartan offense. Josh Miguel hit a sacrifice fly just two batters later and cut the Jamestown lead to 4-3.

Culver Plant tied the game for the final time in the bottom of the seventh thanks to his first Opening Round home run, this one a laser that hit the scoreboard in straight-away center field, and made it a 4-3 game. Plant went 2-5 in the game with two RBI and grabbed the momentum back for the Spartans.

Missouri Baptist capitalized on opportunities afforded to it thanks to the Jamestown bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Beau Rabedeaux, after cruising through the first two batters, ran into the bottom of the Spartan order who put together clutch at-bats.

The Spartans, down to their final out, drew three consecutive walks and knocked the reliever for Jamestown out in the process.

With the bases loaded and two away, Plant hit an infield single and beat the throw at first to give his team its first lead of the game, 5-4. Brian Poupore followed with a two RBI single to ice it as the Spartans grabbed their first win of the 2016 National Championship.

While much can be said for the big offensive effort, the Spartan bullpen was absolutely huge for the team from St. Louis. Donnie Lovelady provided two innings in relief and allowed just one hit in the process. Austin Sweet allowed two hits in his inning, but recorded one big strikeout to end the Jamestown threat in the top of the eighth while Brandon Nunn slammed the door in the ninth.

With the win, the Spartans will advance to play the 2:30 p.m. game on Wednesday where they will face the winner of No. 1-seed Sterling (Kan.) and No. 4-seed Midland (Neb.) in the nightcap. Earlier, Midland took care of business in a 14-10 win over No. 5-seed Avila (Mo.).