ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist Baseball wasn't quite clicking on all cylinders on day one of the Clay Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Spartans saw their three-game winning streak come to an end against St. Xavier in the opener and were then shutout by No. 2 Central Methodist in the second game of the day.
GAME ONE VS. SAINT XAVIER (7 INN.)
The Spartans fell behind 8-1 after three innings and never recovered in a 9-5 defeat. Though starting pitcher
Billy Heil didn't have his best stuff, he was let down on three separate occasions by his defense. MBU totaled four errors in the seven-inning contest.
The offensive highlight of the day was a solo home run from first baseman
Carter Mize in the fourth. Of the Spartans' four other runs, two came across on wild pitches, one on a fielders' choice ground, and one on a
Blane Besse sacrifice fly.
Austin Szverra,
Ryan Turner,
Austin Oblas backed up Heil in relief. Turner took the majority of the last five frames and pitched well, allowing no runs and three hits.
GAME TWO VS. NO. 2 CENTRAL METHODIST
The task only got more difficult in game two when the Spartans had to face the 6-7, 255 lb. Nick Merkel on the mound for CMU. Merkel, a Second Team All-American and member of last season's NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team, stifled the MBU lineup in a complete game shutout.
The Spartans managed five hits with the best scoring opportunity coming with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third. Merkel was able to induce the needed ground out however and elude any damage. MoBap managed just two hits the rest of the way. Merkel finished with 10 strikeouts and just one walk.
Masen Palmier allowed a run in the first and then things got messy in the second when five Eagles came across to score. Only one earned however as an infield error once again caused trouble. Palmier would settle in eventually and finish five innings with three earned, three strikeouts, and three walks.
UP NEXT
The Clay Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament continues Saturday when St. Xavier and Central Methodist tangle in the first game of the day at 10 am. Missouri Baptist and St. Xavier will play at 12:30 and the Spartans will then close the weekend against CMU at 3 pm.
