JOPLIN, MO.—It wasn't necessarily pretty but Missouri Baptist Baseball (29-16) found a way to sneak out a 4-3 win over Harris-Stowe (30-23) on Wednesday night in the first round of the American Midwest Conference Championship Tournament. The Spartans advance to play Freed-Hardeman on Thursday in the next round of the double elimination bracket.
 
Harris-Stowe jumped out to early 2-0 lead on MBU starter Robby Brewster but the senior settled in and held the Hornets in check for most of the night. The Spartans picked their starter up by chipping away in the bottom of the first. General McArthur led off with a double and eventually came home on an error to make it 2-1.
 
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, it was McArthur who delivered again, this time with a solo home run. The next batter was Drew Brooks and he followed with a double to deep right center. After a long at bat, Mason Washington came through with a bloop single to center to tie the game.
 
Brewster worked out of a jam in the sixth and set the stage for the Spartans to take their first lead. Tommy Nawa led off with a single and gave way to courtesy runner, Wayne Roberts. As a swinging bunt from John Hagan dribbled up the first base line, Roberts used heads up base running to go from first to third. With the ensuing batter, Gabriel Castillo, at the plate, a wild pitch eluded the Hornets' catcher. Roberts raced home from third to score, what turned out to be, the game-winning run.
 
Brewster locked in after the opening frame and gutted out seven solid innings for the Spartans. The senior struck out five and allowed three runs on 122 pitches. Miguel Ruiz took over in the eighth and escaped a minor jam.
 
The contest ended somewhat abruptly in the ninth. With two outs and one on, Harris-Stowe's Eddie McDaniels attempted to steal second. He looked to have the bag swiped until the home plate umpire alleged that the batter at the plate, Kenny Lara, interfered with Spartan catcher Tommy Nawa. McDaniels was called out on batter's interference to end the game. Missouri Baptist celebrated a 4-3 win.
 
Brewster earned the win and improved to 7-2. Miguel Ruiz pitched two clutch innings for his second save. Alec Hutt took the loss for Harris-Stowe.
 
Missouri Baptist advances to play the two-seed Freed-Hardeman (37-14) on Thursday night. First pitch is 7 pm at the Joe Becker Stadium. The winner will face the winner of Lyon and William Woods at 4 pm on Friday. The loser will play the winner of CBC and Columbia at 1 pm Friday.