MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The Missouri Baptist University Baseball season got off to a rousing start on Saturday as the Spartans beat sixth-ranked Faulkner University 7-2 in their first game of the season. They followed that up with a 19-4 shellacking of Bethel University in their second game of the day in Millington, Tenn.
GAME ONE vs. (6) Faulkner University
Behind four strong innings from starter
Tanner Young and some timely hitting, the Spartans beat the Eagles 7-2. The Spartans jumped out on top early with a run in the top of the first when
Blayne Yarger led off the game with a single then stole second and third base before coming home on a single up the middle by
Alex Adams. Faulkner evened it up in the bottom of the third with a single unearned run crossing the plate. MBU answered right back by busting the game open with three runs in the top of the fourth.
Tyler Hedtkamp pinch-ran for
Jakob Kouneski at first base with two outs, then
Tommy Patrick Jr. singled and
Blane Besse walked to load the bases for
Arturo Brito. The Venezuelan second baseman doubled to clear the bases and the Spartans had a 4-1 lead. The Eagles would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 MBU. It would stay that way until the top of the seventh when Besse walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brito. Yarger would follow with a triple to plate Besse, then would score on a groundout by
DJ Schmidt. Adams started the rally again with the Spartans' second triple of the inning, before newcomer
Cole Robinson chased him home with a single to make the final score 7-2.
Brito finished the game one for two with three RBI. Besse reached base three times and scored twice. Yarger was two for four with an RBI and two runs scored. Adams was also two for four with and RBI and a run scored.
On the mound, Young gave up just two hits in his four innings of work. He was responsible for one unearned run, struck out six and walked three.
Tony Caldwell came on in relief and earned the save by going three innings, giving up one run while striking out four and walking one.
GAME TWO vs. Bethel University (Tenn.)
The Spartans continued the momentum of the day with a 19-4 win over Bethel (Tenn.) in the second game.
A full recap and stats will be available at a later time.
