SPRINGFIELD, MO. – The Spartans fell in a pair of games on the road to the Evangel University Crusaders in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader. After holding leads late into both games, Missouri Baptist fell to clutch hitting and strong bullpen performances from the Crusaders.
 
The Spartans got out to a hot start in game one. Madalyn Bone kicked things off with a single and was brought home by Shelby Sievers to take a 1-0 lead. Two more singles loaded the bases for senior Cami Meddows who then grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home a run.
 
With the bases still loaded, Katelyn Turbyfill drove in Allison Pingel for the third run followed by RBIs from Sydney Berry and Skyler Ruiz.
 
Evangel, down six runs with only one out recorded, went to the bullpen to stop the bleeding. Bone welcomed the new pitcher to the game with an RBI ground out. Corby pushed the eighth run home with an RBI double to right-center field.
 
A scoreless inning from Sievers in the circle in the bottom half had Missouri Baptist up 8-0 early. Allison Pingel added on in the top of the second inning with a solo homerun to left field, her first as a Spartan.
 
Things began to unravel for MBU in the bottom half. The Crusaders posted two in the second to cut down the lead to seven. A pitching change to Abby Jo Emmitt in the second inning also helped swing the momentum in favor of Evangel.
 
Emmitt threw six innings out of the bullpen collecting 11 strikeouts and giving up no runs, buying time for Evangel to make a comeback. The home team put up two in the third, two in the fifth, and four in the sixth to beat the Spartans 10-9.
 
The second game had a similar outcome. The Spartans jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind three RBIs from Chadwick and strong pitching from Haley Tate through four innings.
 
The Crusaders posted another crooked number in a five-run fifth inning to come from behind for the second straight game. MBU mounted a comeback bid with a run in the top of the seventh but ultimately fell 6-5 in game two.
 
Next up for Missouri Baptist softball is a home doubleheader on Saturday against the University of Saint Francis (Ill.). The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.