Box Score ST. LOUIS – [GAME 1 BOX] It took extras for a winner to emerge for the second consecutive day, but when the dust settled, Missouri Baptist came out on top of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) yet again. After an 11 inning marathon, the Spartans got a big home run from Drew Kitson in the 11th inning to defeat the Lions 8-6 on Saturday.
Missouri Baptist (23-10, 15-5 AMC) looked to Donnie Lovelady in the getaway game against Freed-Hardeman in an effort to complete the series sweep. After a couple of tough outings in a row, Lovelady returned to form and allowed just three runs in eight solid innings of work.
The Spartans trailed early yet again after the Lions plated the first run of the game in the second inning. Center fielder Darcy Moore went deep in the inning to give the home team an early 1-0 lead.
The two teams traded runs in the fourth inning as the Lions maintained its one-run advantage. Drew Kitson's sacrifice fly in the inning scored Aaron Collazo to briefly tie the game at one, but Freed-Hardeman posted another run in the bottom half to regain its lead.
Missouri Baptist broke through in the sixth and looked to have put the game out of reach. An error proved deadly to Freed-Hardeman as a throwing error directly led to two runs. Joe Leatherwood's wild throw allowed Collazo and Kitson to score before John Hagan's RBI double plated the third run and gave the visitors a 4-2 lead.
The score remained tied until the ninth when the Lions provided more late-inning heroics. Nick Vichio struck-out four batters in the inning, but on the second one, the ball got away from Tommy Nawa, which allowed the first runner to reach. Consecutive hits, however, scored a pair of runs and sent the game to extras.
In the 11th, it was Kitson who provided the fireworks to pus the Spartans over the finish line. The center fielder hit a three-run home run to give his team the lead for good.
With the win, Missouri Baptist will enter the final two conference home weekends with the most American Midwest Conference wins overall. The Spartans will have one more road game against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) before enjoying a 10-game home stand. The navy and while will play 13 of its final 18 games on home field.
