CLERMONT, Fla. – The Spartans wrapped up their Florida trip on Tuesday afternoon with a pair of closely contested losses against Thomas More University and Lourdes University. The MBU offense had difficulties sustaining a rally, collecting just eight combined hits across the two games.
 
Game One: Thomas More University– L, 1-2
Fresh off of a strong outing on Monday against (RV) Lawrence Tech, freshman Haley Tate got the call in game one and did not disappoint. The Eureka, Missouri native shut out Saints for the first three innings of the game.
 
Thomas More's pitcher, Kiana Towe, was up to the task, however, keeping the game scoreless through three and a half. In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run over the center-field fence.
 
A Cami Meddows double to lead off the top of the fifth put her in position to score on an errant throw to tie the game back at one. A Spartan error in the bottom of the sixth brought home the go-ahead run.
 
Three quick outs in the top of the seventh gave Thomas More a 2-1 victory over Missouri Baptist. Tate posted five innings of work giving up a lone run on four hits.
 
Game Two: Lourdes University – L, 0-1
Senior Delissa Dennison got the call in game two and got off to a rough start. Dennison hit the first batter of the game who proceeded to steal second. Erin Manley then singled off Dennison to bring home the first run of the game.
 
The Staunton, Illinois native found her footing after that, ending the game with seven innings pitched allowing just one earned on five hits and seven strikeouts.
 
Unfortunately for the Spartans, they were not able to solve Milena Applegate. Applegate stifled the MBU offense with seven shutout innings allowing four hits, completing the game with just 65 pitches thrown.
 
Next Game:
Missouri Baptist Softball will make their way home on Friday, March 13 to take on Williams Baptist in an AMC Doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.