Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist jumped-out to a 3-0 lead on Saturday, and thanks to some solid defense, held-on to defeat a hard-charging Lyon (Ark.) squad in the ninth, 3-1.
Missouri Baptist (31-11, 22-5 AMC) swept the Scots, their fifth consecutive American Midwest Conference sweep in 2017.
Aaron Collazo led the scoring charge in the bottom of the first for the Spartans with a leadoff double. He came around to score just a couple batters later on an RBI single by Chad Ramsey to make it 1-0.
The Spartans extended the lead to two in the fourth with two outs already in the inning. Angel Cruz worked the count from down 1-2 to a walk to put the first runner aboard with two away. Brandon Schlichtig doubled Curz home in the next at-bat to make it 2-0.
In the fifth, Missouri Baptist posted its third and final run thanks to another walk. Culver Plant drew the free pass, and thanks to a balk from Lyon starter Blake Jameson, stood at second base with one out. Drew Kitson came to the plate moments later and singled through the left side to make it 3-0 Spartans.
Lyon plated one run in the seventh thanks to a walk, a wild pitch, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to short, but that was the extent of their run production.
In the ninth, the Scots seemingly had Spartan closer Nick Vichio on the ropes. With bases loaded and just one out, Andrew Saucedo sent a grounder down the third base line, but Miles Fore made a head's up play as he fielded the ball, stepped on third and made a huge throw to first to turn the game-ending double play.
John Hagan got the start and left and not only made a great play to throw-out Keegan Floyd as he tried to stretch a single into a double in the eighth, but saved a run in the sixth thanks to a great play in left to hold the runners at second and third with one out on a fly-out.
Mike Syrett was absolutely outstanding in his start on Saturday for the Spartans. The righty fanned eight batters and allowed just one run on five hits. Miguel Ruiz, Robby Brewster and Vichio completed the game to give Missouri Baptist its 22nd win in the AMC in 2017.
Next up for the Spartans is a non-conference battle at home against the Campbellsville (Ky.) Tigers. The Tuesday doubleheader will be the final games of a 10-game homestand.
