ST. LOUIS – [GAME 1 BOX] [GAME 2 BOX] Missouri Baptist struggled at the plate on Tuesday as the team had two of their lowest production games of the season, but the pitching held the team in it. After a 3-1 loss in game one, the Spartans rebounded with a 1-0 win over College of the Ozarks (Mo.) on Tuesday.

Missouri Baptist (28-11, 19-5 AMC) dropped the first, but ended College of the Ozarks six-game win streak in the second game of the twin bill.

Mailik Jones got the nod in the first game and looked unhittable at times. The junior right-hander recorded seven strikeouts in four innings of work and kept his season ERA at 0.00. Though he ran into two jams in the game, he managed to pitch his way out of it.

A Missouri Baptist fielding error in the second inning loaded the bases, but Jones struck-out Kole Kelley to end the threat.

The Spartan fielding came-up big as well. After a leadoff double to begin the third, Culver Plant gunned-down Chad Reusch on his way to third to give the home team the first out. Two batters later, Austin Rieman made a similar head's up play at first to get the middle runner at second to make it first and third with two outs. Jones struck-out the final batter of the inning to strand another runner at third.

Nick Hynes entered in the fifth and after a strikeout of Reusch, Bobcat center fielder Austin Schweiss tripled and scored to post the first run of the game.

The Bobcats maintained their one-run advantage until a leadoff double in the seventh proved to be the winning run. Jesse Fisher, with two outs, ripped a single to center field, which scored Reusch, and extended the lead to 2-0. Moments later, a wild pitch made it a 3-0 lead, which put the Spartans back on their heels looking for runs in the bottom half.

Missouri Baptist made a big effort in the bottom of the seventh, but came-up just short. A leadoff walk to John Hagan put the first runner aboard. Rieman followed with a single and made it first and second with one out. Consecutive strikeouts to Angel Cruz and a pinch-hitting Nate Green made Aaron Collazo's at-bat critical.

Collazo singled-in the only run for the Spartans on a hit up the middle, but that was the end of the line. Culver Plant hit a ball sharply to second and after a bobble by Kole Kelley, he was thrown out to end the game.

Game two was all about the pitching and both teams got a great start from their hurlers. Alex Stephens got the nod on the hill for the Bobcats and allowed the game's only run in the third.

In that third inning, the run was all setup by Miles Fore's big leadoff double. Aaron Collazo followed-up with a bunt single before Drew Kitson knocked-in the run on a single through the hole at short.

After that point, it was all up to the Spartan staff as the Bobcats' relievers did not allow a single hit in the final two innings.

Anthony Cosme went to work on the mound for the Spartans and put together one of his best outings of the season. The junior southpaw went four innings and allowed just two hits and recorded two strikeouts. Robby Brewster entered in the fifth and did not allow a single hit or walk in his two innings of work. Nick Vichio entered in the seventh to record his seventh save of the season as he struck-out two batters in the effort.

Next up for the Spartans will be the American Midwest Conference Series of the Week against the Lyon (Ark.) Scots. This one may be for all the marbles as the conference regular season begins to wind down. The winner of the series will be in position to win the AMC Regular Season and secure the No. 1 seed in the American Midwest Conferenct Tournament set to begin on May 3.