SAUGET, Ill. – MBU Baseball went 1-1 against Madonna University (Mich.) in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. The Spartans won game one 7-4 before falling 8-1 in the nightcap.
 
GAME ONE (7 innings)
 
MBU starter Masen Palmier got off to a rocky opening frame before settling in. The first two Crusader hitters roped triples off the senior ace and the Spartans found themselves in an early 2-0 hole. The offense would get one back in the bottom half after an Ashanti Ross leadoff double, a wild pitch, and a passed ball.
 
It remained 2-1 until the fifth when the MBU bats finally broke out (with the help of some very shoddy Madonna pitching and defense). Back to back walks started the inning. Then Carter Mize dropped down a bunt that went right under the glove of MU pitcher Nate Blain. Another wild pitch then tied the game.
 
Manny Garcia drew another walk and that brought the DH, Jordan Brandenburg, to the plate. Brandenburg took the first pitch he saw over the left centerfield wall for a grand slam -- his first homer and hit as a Spartan.
 
The Spartans added one more run and held on in the seventh to get their second win of the season. Palmier completed five innings allowing just three more hits after the opening frame. He struck out five to run his W/L to 1-1.
 
GAME TWO (7 innings)
 
Offense was hard to come by for Missouri Baptist in game two. The Spartans racked up just four hits while falling victim to a big fifth inning from the Madonna offense.
 
MBU did jump out to a lead in the third when Jordan Brandenburg, the hero of game one, once again delivered. The senior's RBI double scored Tommy Patrick Jr. from first.
 
The Crusaders would tie the game in the fourth and take the lead with four runs on three hits in the fifth off Spartan starter Billy Heil. The crushing blow was a line drive three-run homer over the short right field fence.
 
The loss dropped the Spartans record to 2-4 overall. They'll head to Kansas City next weekend for four games, two each on Friday and Saturday.