CONWAY, Ark. – MBU Baseball (3-5, 1-1 AMC) split a doubleheader with Central Baptist (10-3, 1-1 AMC) on Friday in Arkansas. Both games ended with a 6-5 score line. The rubber game for the initial 'AMC Series of the Week' of 2020 is set for Saturday at noon.
 
GAME ONE- SEVEN INNINGS
After three scoreless frames to start Friday's AMC opener, the Spartans broke out the bats in the fourth. Trey Steffler started the merry-go-round with a leadoff single. Sage Voda reached on a bunt single before Carter Mize cashed in to drive Steffler home. Adrian Gutierrez, Nick Politte, and Trent Shelby followed with RBI base hits of their own. The Spartans sent all nine hitters to the plate in a five-run inning.
 
Josh Sieglitz started on the mound for MBU and was cruising along until the fourth It was there that conceded two solo home runs. The Mustangs struck for two more in the fifth to make it a one-run game and that signaled the end of the day for the Spartans' senior ace.
 
After Jarrett Quinn pitched out of trouble in the sixth, it was up to Manny Pizarro to shut it down in the seventh. But CBC tied the game with a single and a double before Mo. Bap could get an out. Holding all the momentum at that point, the home side would eventually win it on a two-out bases loaded walk.
 
GAME TWO- NINE INNINGS
In the second game of the day, it was the Spartans who had to make a comeback, albeit in the earlier innings. After falling behind 2-0, three runs in the third and two more in fourth spotted MBU a 5-2 advantage.
 
Luis Tajia kick started the offense with a leadoff single in the third and then showed off some power with his first career HR in the fourth, a two-run shot. Later on, after CBC cut it back to a one-run game at 5-4, Carter Mize launched his first big fly of the season to start the top of the eighth.
 
Matthew Hess made the start on the mound and delivered five innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs. He handed it off to Jarrett Quinn in the sixth and the junior held CBC in check for the next three innings. Quinn allowed one run on three hits.
 
With Mize's home run serving as insurance, Jackson Keller took over closing duties in the ninth. Keller struck out two of the three hitters he faced in a perfect frame to earn the save.
 
VIEW FROM THE COACHES' BOX
 
"The guys responded well after not closing out game one," noted Head Coach Eddie Uschold. "I'm proud of the way they battled in game two. We still have a lot of growing to do but winning that second game was a big step in the maturation for this group."
 
Uschold also heaped praise on his game two pitching staff…
 
"Great start by Hess. Quinn bridged the gap and Keller slammed the door."
 
The Spartans will now have an opportunity to win the series in Saturday's finale. Masen Palmier is expected to make the start. Missouri Baptist returns to St. Louis for the home opener on Tuesday against St. Xavier (Ill.) (weather permitting).