ST. LOUIS—MBU Baseball moved to 8-7 overall after two home wins against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (2-11) on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans started quickly in both games in route to 8-2 and 4-3 seven-inning victories.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Spartans jumped all over ONU starter Owen Oliver in the first game of the day. Base hits by Sage Voda and Trey Steffler helped load the bases before Adrian Gutierrez drew a walk to open the scoring. A sacrifice fly by Trent Shelby made it 2-0.
 
After another sac fly in the second, the Spartans blew it open with four runs in the third. Eight batters came to the plate in the frame, beginning with Shelby who was hit by a pitch. Luis Tajia followed with a double off the wall in centerfield, scoring Shelby all the way from first base. Vincent Napolitano and DJ Schmidt later contributed RBI singles and Sage Voda grounded out to make it 7-0.
 
Tajia produced another RBI single in the fourth inning and eight runs was more than enough offense for MBU starter Matthew Hess (4-1). Hess finished five innings with only one run allowed on six hits and four strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO
 
Olivet Nazarene jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two but it didn't take long for the Spartans to respond. A double to the left centerfield gap by Adrian Gutierrez drove in Sage Voda in bottom of the opening frame.
 
In the second inning, Nick Politte singled with two outs and came all the way around to score on an opposite field double by Tyler Knox. MBU then got its third RBI double of the game in the next inning when Vincent Napolitano followed suit, bringing Trey Steffler and Trent Shelby across home plate. Napolitano finished the day 4-6 in the two games combined with three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
With a 4-1 lead to protect from that point forward, Masen Palmier did just enough on the mound to earn the win. After a rocky start in the opening inning, Palmier settled in to allow just two hits from the second inning on. The junior didn't walk anyone and finished with four strikeouts to improve his record to 3-0. Jackson Keller worked a clean seventh inning to earn his second save in as many chances.
 
Missouri Baptist and Olivet Nazarene will play another seven-inning doubleheader on Monday if weather allows. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Spartan Baseball Field.