ST. LOUIS— MBU Softball was swept by Lindenwood-Belleville in a doubleheader at home on Tuesday afternoon. After dropping game one 1-0, the Spartans made a furious comeback effort in game two but fell short by a score of 8-7.
 
Baleigh Koester started in the circle for Missouri Baptist in the first game and was unhittable for the first five innings. Her no-hitter was finally broken up in the sixth and the Lynx went on to score the only run of the game on a Spartan error.
 
On the other side, the Spartan offense could not solve LUB starter Cortnye Pool. The sophomore delivered a two-hit, complete game shutout to earn the win. Koester took the loss despite allowing just three hits and no earned runs. The freshman hasn't allowed an earned run in her last 25 innings pitched. She struck out six to increase her AMC lead in punch outs.
 
Lindenwood-Belleville would jump on Spartan starter Delissa Dennison for three runs in the first inning of game two. The Spartans responded with two of their own in the bottom of the first. Jordan Corby doubled home Ally Gischer and Caitlin McNiff followed with an RBI single to plate Corby.
 
The Lynx then scored four in the third to chase Dennison and Ally Dunaway came on in relief. The freshman went on to contain the visitors for the next four-plus innings. Dunaway conceded just one run on six hits.
 
Trailing 8-2 in the entering the bottom of the sixth, MBU finally broke out offensively. RBI singles from Cami Meddows and Reily Kassay made it 8-4. Corby then singled to bring in two unearned runs after errors from Lindenwood-Belleville. An RBI single from Caitlin McNiff made it 8-7 before the inning was through.
 
That would be where the comeback stopped, however, as the Lynx steadied the ship and retired the Spartans in order in the seventh. The sweep brings MBU's record to 29-18 overall (13-9 AMC). They'll conclude conference regular season play with a doubleheader against AMC leader Freed-Hardeman on Wednesday at 3 pm. It will be the final home series of 2018 for the Spartans.