ST. LOUIS – [GAME 1 BOX] [GAME 2 BOX] Despite plating 20 runs in game one of the elimination bracket against William Woods (Mo.), Missouri Baptist simply didn't have enough firepower left in the tank in game two of the day. The Spartans took game one, 20-11, but fell to the Central Baptist (Ark.) Mustangs 11-3 in the finals of the 2016 American Midwest Conference Championship Tournament.

Missouri Baptist (42-13) posted gaudy numbers in its first elimination game of the day. After dropping a tough 8-6 decision to Central Baptist on Friday night, the Spartans needed a win over William Woods in order to have a chance at the tournament championship.

Things started out well enough for Missouri Baptist as Bobby Evans got his first start of the postseason. Evans gave-up two runs in the top of the first, but the big bats came to play. The Spartans scored four in the first, seven in the third and posted another four-spot in the fifth on the way to the rout of the Owls.

Though Evans allowed nine earned runs, his nine-inning performance saved the bullpen on a hot day in Henderson, Tenn.

Angel Cruz was a man on a mission in game one. The right fielder went 5-6 in the game with six RBI. Austyn Nagamine went 3-5 in the game with two RBI as well. The Spartan backstop hit .375 over the course of the Championship Tournament. Tim Hergert, Austin Rieman and Josh Miguel also turned-in multi-hit performances.

Though he did not get the start, Mike Levar dropped the devastating blow in the game for the Spartans. The Boone, Colo., native hit his second home run of the season, this one a grand slam, to make it a 15-7 game.

The power ran out in game two as a fresh Central Baptist squad led the game from the third inning, on.

The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead early on a Jaylin Lawson RBI single, but the Spartans responded in the next frame.

Mike Levar and Jared Hagley led-off the bottom of the second with consecutive singles. Both came around to score and the Spartans took a 2-1 lead. This, however, was the last lead the squad from St. Louis held in the game.

Central Baptist third baseman Seth McLemore took the lead right back in the third with one swing of the bat. With Monterio May standing on first, McLemore sent an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall. The Mustangs tacked-on two more on the way to their AMC Tournament victory.

Though the Spartans suffered a loss in the final game, the team secured the second automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round from the AMC.

After the tournament, the All-Conference team was announced and the Spartans took home some serious hardware.

Coach Eddie Uschold was named the Coach of the Year while Jared Crescentini was named the Newcomer Pitcher of the Year.

Below is the full list of Spartan All-Conference honorees:

First Team

Shortstop – Tim Hergert

Third Base – Culver Plant

Outfield – Brian Poupore

Pitcher – Jared Crescentini

Utility Pitcher – Austin Sweet

Second Team

Catcher – Austyn Nagamine

Designated Hitter – Austin Rieman

Pitcher – Donnie Lovelady

Gold Glove

Catcher – Austyn Nagamine