ST. LOUIS – It was a tale of two games for Missouri Baptist softball on Saturday as the Spartans split their AMC doubleheader with Park University in the form of back-to-back shutouts. MBU's 3-0 blanking of the Pirates came in Game One, while Park returned the favor with a 6-0 shutout in the finale.
In addition to serving as the last AMC series at home for 2019, Saturday also marked Senior Day for the Spartan softball program. Senior catcher
Meagan Elder was recognized as a four-year starter for the program and capped off what could be her final home series with a bang. The senior from St. Peters, Mo., provided a clutch 3-RBI double in the fifth inning of Game One to help the Spartans secure their 11
th win in league play.
Winning 1 out of 2 for the third straight series, Missouri Baptist continues to fight to get over the .500 hump at 17-18 overall. In conference, the Spartans are 11-9 and tied for 6
th in the standings with Williams Baptist.
Delissa Dennison served up some more lights out pitching for the Spartans on Saturday with her third shutout of 2019. The junior inched closer to a 10-win season with her ninth of the season on the heels of a three-hit complete game. In addition to fanning five Pirates, Dennison recorded four 1-2-3 innings in the win. In Game Two, Dennison also pitched 3.1 innings of relief giving up just two hits with five Ks.
Offensively, the Spartans struggled to get on the scoreboard despite getting hits early. Through the first four innings at a 0-0 deadlock, Missouri Baptist recorded six hits and four runners in scoring position, but couldn't muster up a run.
The only scoring of Game One came in the bottom of the 5
th with two outs on the board. Eventually loading up the bases,
Meagan Elder delivered a Senior Day special doubling deep down the left field line and driving in teammates
Madalyn Bone,
Jordan Corby and
Caitlin McNiff.
For the game, both
Jordan Corby and
Ally Gischer were perfect from the plate going 3-for-3. Corby finished with a pair of doubles in her three plate appearances.
Game Two was a complete 180 going in favor of the visiting Pirates. Park scored in the second, third and fourth innings and had an 11-3 advantage in hits over the Spartans. In addition to senior
Meagan Elder getting a hit,
Reily Kassay and
Tomi Dublo also registered a hit in the loss.
Up next for the Spartans is a trip to Tennessee and Arkansas on Friday and Saturday next week to take on Freed-Hardeman and Williams Baptist.
