COLUMBIA, Mo. – MBU softball swept Stephens College on Saturday after falling in both games against (19) Columbia College on Friday.
 
Columbia GAME ONE
 
Megan Pfeiffer went 3-for-3 against the Cougars in game one as MBU fell 1-7. The Spartans' lone run came in the top of the fifth as Ellie Wessel hit into a fielder's choice that scored Molly McPheeters. CC was able to pick up seven runs on ten hits. The Spartans had seven hits themselves but failed to string enough together to remain competitive down the stretch.
 
Columbia GAME TWO
 
The Spartans struck first in game two collecting two runs in the top of the third. Natalie Archer was walked and a throwing error allowed for Isabella Schlemmer to reach and Archer to advance to third. Schlemmer proceeded to steal second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Sydney Berry delivered with a two RBI double into right field gap.
 
MBU held on to the lead until the bottom of the fourth where Columbia would tie the game with two runs of their own. The Cougars added four more in the bottom of the fifth and another in the bottom of the sixth. The Spartans couldn't avoid the sweep despite the early lead, falling 2-7.
 
Stephens GAME ONE
 
The Spartans wasted no time on day two in Columbia as they picked up four first inning runs against Stephens College. Wessel led off the game with a single into center field and stole second to quickly put herself in scoring position. Megan Pfeiffer reached on an error by the third baseman, bringing home Wessel. Kolby Brake and Shelby Sievers hit back-to-back home runs to put the Spartans up 4-0 before an out had been recorded. Stephens avoided any more trouble and managed to get out of the inning despite allowing two more baserunners.
 
After a quiet second inning, MoBap added another in top of the third as a single by Haley Tate scored Sievers to put the Spartans up 5-0. In the top of the fourth with bases loaded, Sievers reached on an error, scoring Schlemmer. Tate then singled back at the pitcher allowing Berry to score, extending the lead to 7-0. Tate remained lights out on the mound allowing only three base runners during the first four innings.
 
After a quiet fifth inning by both teams, MoBap looked to end this one early. Sievers doubled into the left field gap to put herself in scoring position. She was then brought home by a Tate single. With the Spartans up 8-0, Stephens need to score at least one run in the bottom half of the inning to force the game to continue into the seventh. Tate shut the door with two strikeouts and a groundout to put away the Stars. Tate struck out 12 on her way to the complete game shutout while earning her sixth win of the season.
 
Stephens GAME TWO
 
MoBap once again got off to a hot start as Wessel reached first base on a throwing error and advanced to second. Pfeiffer did not miss the opportunity put the Spartans up early with a single to score Wessel from second. Kolby Brake for the second game in the row, homered in the first inning, this time to left field making it 3-0. Sievers was hit by the pitch and stole second in hopes of adding to the early lead.  Kaylee Morris put the ball into center, scoring Sievers, and advanced to second on the throw home. Schlemmer later brought home Morris with a double into left field to extend the Spartans first inning lead, 5-0.
 
In the bottom of the third Stephens picked up a run of their own. MBU quickly responded in the top of the fourth as McPheeters singled into left field. Wessel then beat out the throw on a bunt to advance McPeeters. A double steal allowed for MoBap to have two in scoring position with Pfeiffer up to bat. McPheeters scored on a passed ball and Wessel advanced to third. Pfeiffer added to the Spartan lead, scoring Wessel with a single into center field. Pfeiffer later scored off a single from Sievers to put the Spartans up 8-1, before the inning would end.
 
The Stars refused to have a repeat of the first game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Spartan lead, 4-8. Sievers closed out the game allowing only one base runner over the final two innings to lock up the win, 8-4. Sievers allowed only one earned run over seven innings of work while striking out three to earn her 13^th win of the season.
 
MBU softball remains in the driver seat for the second seed at the AMC tournament with their sweep of Stephens but seeks to finish the season strong and lock in the two seed as they head to Fulton, Mo. on Tuesday, April 26 for a doubleheader against William Woods. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3:00 pm.