ST. LOUIS – [GAME 1 BOX] [GAME 2 BOX] It didn't take very long for Missouri Baptist to begin living up to the hype. The Spartans posted 27 total runs in two games on Friday, one cut short due to run rule,  and moved to 2-0 on the year with impressive wins over Cumberland (Ky.) and Shawnee State (Ohio) 13-4 and 14-0 respectively. 

Missouri Baptist (2-0) looked impressive from the outset in Ellisville, Miss., just 15 miles away from Hattisburg, Miss., where a tornado caused destruction to the campus of host William Carey (Miss.) It was clear, after building a 3-0 lead just two innings in that the Spartans were fully geared for the 2017 season.

A slight hiccup in the bottom of the second was the only blemish to the scoreboard the Spartans sustained combined in both contests. The Phoenix posted four runs, three of which were unearned, after a wild throw allowed Rayden Sierra to reach. Cumberland's Kyle Allen followed the error with a two-run home run to center field to cut the Missouri Baptist lead to 3-2.

Two more runs followed that inning, all unearned, as Pat Boyle was dealing in the game. The senior lefty allowed just one earned run on four hits and racked-up seven strikeouts in his four innings of work.

The Spartans racked-up 15 hits in the game as Tommy Nawa, Nate Green and Miles Fore did much of the damage. Green and Nawa both posted three-hit days, while Fore went 2-5 with two RBI.

Aaron Collazo was also welcomed back to the Spartan lineup after a year's absence on Friday. The second baseman went 2-4 in his return as the table-setter at the top of Coach Eddie Uschold's lineup.

With an eight-run lead, Nate Green became the first Spartan to hit one out of the park in 2017. The junior from St. Charles, Mo., hit a solo shot in the ninth out of the nine hole to put a cap on the game.

Perhaps just as big as the offense was the shut down pitching Missouri Baptist sent to the mound in relief. Robby Brewster, Nick Hynes and Nick Vichio totaled to allow the Phoenix just four hits in five innings. At the back end, Vichio, the transfer from Saint Louis (Mo.) sent the Phoenix down in order by striking out the side to end the game.

Game two was a bit different, as all the Missouri Baptist damage was inflicted in two innings. The Spartans posted a seven spot in the second and the sixth to cruise to their second win of the season.

Drew Kitson hit his first home run of the season on a 1-2 pitch in the second to start the scoring bonanza. The Spartans recorded 12 hits in the second game of the twin bill, but made quick work of the Shawnee State Bears as Missouri Baptist posted its first shutout of the season. Collazo had another two-hit game and went 2-4 with a triple and one RBI, but the man of the hour was Kyle Keck.

The senior out of Ottumwa, Iowa went 2-3 at the plate, both doubles, as he posted three RBI on his second hit of the day in the bottom of the sixth. Keck added a stolen base to his resume as well.

Donnie Lovelady went to the hill for his first start of the 2017 campaign and allowed just four hits as he recorded five strikeouts on the day. Miguel Ruiz, Malik Jones and Brett Mann each got an inning of hitless relief to help the Spartans to their second dominant win of the season.

Missouri Baptist will have its first game against a ranked opponent on Saturday in the second game of the day. After a noon tilt with Shawnee State, the Spartans will face host, No. 23 William Carey (Miss.) in game two. Bobby Evans and Michael Syrett are the projected starters.