ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] After posting a three-spot in the bottom of the second, the bats exploded in the fifth. Missouri Baptist jumped-out to an 8-4 lead after a five-run bottom of the fifth inning to grab game one of the American Midwest Conference series against the Park (Mo.) Pirates 10-6.

Missouri Baptist (25-10, 17-5 AMC) got things started in the second, thanks in large part to Tommy Nawa. The junior backstop posted his fifth homerun of the season, a two-run shot, to give the home team a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Culver Plant doubled-home Aaron Collazo and made it 3-0.

The Pirates responded in the top of the third. Rafael Torres-Castillo doubled-home the first run of the inning and led the visitors to tie the game at three.

Park briefly took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth, but Missouri Baptist took control in the bottom half of the frame. Seven consecutive Spartans reached base in the inning as the team posted a five-spot on the board, which was all they needed.

Pat Boyle got the win in the game as the senior lefty continues to lead the staff. Boyle tossed five full innings and allowed just three earned runs with five strikeouts to run his record to 4-2. Nick Hynes picked-up the save after entering the game in the ninth.

Culver Plant led the offense on the day. The senior shortstop went 3-4 at the dish with two RBI. Aaron Collazo, Drew Kitson, Austin Rieman and Tommy Nawa also collected two hits on the day.

The win is the sixth consecutive for the Spartans as the team will look for the series win on Saturday in the doubleheader finale. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Spartan Baseball Field.