KANSAS CITY, Mo. – MBU Baseball earned its second and third straight victories on Monday. The offense came alive for 13 combined runs and the pitching remained rock-solid to improve the Spartans' record to 5-5. Both games were played at the Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy.
 
GAME ONE VS. (22) MIDAMERICA NAZARENE (7 INN.)
 
After a 2-1 win on Saturday, the Spartans were looking to go back to back against the 22^nd ranked Pioneers. It was MNU, however, who took an early 1-0 lead in Monday's rematch.
 
The offense was sparked in the fourth when Alex Adams singled home PJ Brooks. They would three more in the fifth. Carter Mize gave the Spartans the lead with an RBI double. A sac fly and a bases loaded walk accounted for the other two runs. Jordan Brandenburg's second home run of the season capped off the scoring in the top of the seventh.
 
Jackson Keller and Ryan Brown backed up a strong start from Matthew Hess on the mound. Hess finished 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits to earn his first win of the season.
 
GAME TWO VS. NORTHWESTERN (IOWA) (7 INN.)
 
The night cap was all MBU in every facet of the game. On the pitching side, Micah Diamond picked up his first victory as a Spartan with five shutout innings. He conceded just two hits and K'd three. Tanner Young closed out the final two frames.
 
On the other side of the mound, Carter Mize was the offensive catalyst. Mize homered in both the fourth and sixth innings and finished 3-3 with 3 RBIs. Alex Adams, Tommy Patrick Jr., Cesar Soto, and Hutch Kettler all turned in multi-hit games. Jordan Brandenburg was held out of the hit column, but the senior did drive in two more runs, bringing his season total to a team-leading nine.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Spartans will finally play on their home field on Friday and Saturday. The fourth annual Clayton Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament will feature Saint Xavier (Ill.) and NAIA No. 2-ranked Central Methodist. The action begins at 10 am on Friday.