Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] After taking a 2-1 lead after two innings, the Missouri Baptist was unable to execute against the host team, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.). The Spartans let a one-run lead slip through its fingers in the top of the eighth and dropped the first game of the 2017 American Midwest Conference Baseball Championship 5-3 in 10 innings.
Missouri Baptist (37-13, 24-6 AMC) struggled at times against a familiar foe in Brandon Guske as the senior hurler toed the rubber for the Lions. Guske went the distance, a full 10-inning performance where he allowed just three runs on seven hits.
The Spartans trailed after the top of the second by a single run, but plated two in the bottom half. Austin Rieman walked to lead off the inning and scored on a groundout from Angel Cruz to tie the game at one. Third baseman Miles Fore singled in John Hagan on the next at-bat to make it a 2-1 game.
The Lions tied it in the fourth thanks to Collin McPherson. The sophomore from Henderson, Tenn., cranked a solo home run on a 1-2 pitch to even the score.
"We let Guske hang around and he just got better as the game went," quipped Coach Eddie Uschold. "Just have to re-group and get to Friday."
Drew Kitson doubled and scored on an RBI single from Hagan in the sixth, but that was the extent of the damage that the Spartan offense was able to muster. Aden Campbell tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth setting-up the 10th inning heroics from the host squad.
Consecutive singles of Spartan closer Nick Vichio put two on with one out. In an attempt to set-up the double play, Missouri Baptist elected to intentionally walk Chase Young. The move backfired on the next batter as a wild pitch scored what ended as the game winner.
Donnie Lovelady got the start for the Spartans and had a no-decision in the game after Vichio was tagged with the loss.
"Donnie was outstanding," said Uschold. "He deserved a better fate today."
Missouri Baptist will now head into a 10:00 a.m. game on Thursday where they will play the loser of the game between No. 5-seed William Woods (Mo.) and #4-seed Harris-Stowe (Mo.).
