CONWAY, Ark. – MBU Baseball had an opportunity to steal Saturday's rubber game at Central Baptist before defensive miscues doomed the Spartans in the late innings. The Mustangs prevailed 8-3 to win the series.
 
Junior starting pitcher Masen Palmier made the start for Mo. Bap and delivered 5+ strong innings. He allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out four.
 
The offense picked their starter up with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh. It was an RBI single by Trey Steffler in the sixth that cut the CBC lead in half. In the seventh, a sacrifice fly by Trent Shelby drove home Sage Voda to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Then the wheels fell off in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans kicked around three errors leading to two Mustang runs. A two-run HR in the bottom of the eighth made it 8-3 CBC. MBU put two on base in the ninth but couldn't cash in.
 
The Spartans finished the day with three runs, seven hits, and four errors. Offensively, Trey Steffler continued to be the catalyst for MBU. The native of Boise, Idaho had his fourth consecutive two-hit game. Steffler is 8-14 over the last four games and hitting .467 so far this season.
 
Missouri Baptist will return to St. Louis for the home opener on Tuesday. The non-conference doubleheader against St. Xavier (Ill.) will get underway at noon (weather permitting).