ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist Baseball team used dominant pitching and power at the plate to overwhelm Lyon College in the first two games of this weekend series at Spartan Baseball Field. MBU took the first game 9-1, before unloading on the Scots 16-1 in Game Two.
 
GAME ONE: MBU 9, LYON 1 (7 inn.)
Anthony Green was up to his old tricks again. The reigning American Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week completely shut down the Lyon offense on his way to fanning 10 in a complete game victory. The right hander from St. Louis gave up on two hits in seven innings, and if it was not for a couple of hit batsmen and a double in the final frame, he may have protected a shutout. Green is now 10-0 on the season, which ties him for second in the NAIA in wins. His average of just under 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched is third in the NAIA in that category.
 
Not to be outdone, the offense did more than their fair share of contributing to the victory, as they had 11 hits in the contest, led by Noah Hemphill who was three for three with two RBIs and a run scored. Jakob Kouneski and Blane Besse also had two RBIs in the game.
 
The offense started a bit slowly for the Spartans but found it's grove in the fourth.
 
An Alex Adams walk and a Cole Robinson double got the Spartans a run in the bottom of the first and it would stay that way through three innings.
 
In the fourth, Robinson would lead off with his second double of the game. Sage McMinn singled and advanced to second a throw from the outfield, moving Robinson to third with no one out. Hemphill delivered with his second hit of the game driving in both Robinson and McMinn. DJ Schmidt then reached on an error by the first baseman. Both Hemphill and Schmidt would score the third and fourth runs of the inning when Kouneski singled. The final run of the fourth scored when Besse grounded into a double play. MBU had put five runs on the board and took a 6-0 lead to the fifth inning.
 
The Spartans added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth for good measure. Kouneski walked and Kevin Watkins pinch-ran for him. Cesar Soto singled to put two on then Besse doubled to bring them both home. Back to back ground outs allowed Besse to score giving MBU their final run and making the score 9-0.
 
Green got a little wild in the seventh but was able to finish out the seven-inning complete game. He walked the first hitter, hit the second, then gave up a double for the Scots only run of the game. Green would then strike out the side sandwiched around another hit batsman to finish the game. His final numbers were seven innings pitched, with two hits and three walks with those 10 strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO: MBU 16, LYON 1 (7 inn.)
The Spartans bats were less hesitant in the second game of the day as Tanner Young got the start and was only slightly less dominant than his colleague in Game One.
MBU put this game away early by scoring 14 runs in the first three innings.
 
In the first, Blane Besse led off with his eleventh home run of the season to get the offense started. That home run puts him in the lead in the category for the club. But the Spartan offensive explosion was only getting started in this one. Blayne Yarger followed by getting hit by a pitch, then scoring on an Alex Adams double. The Spartans led 2-0 after one inning.
 
MBU sent 11 batters to the plate in the second. Jakob Kouneski started the rally with a leadoff double, and Kevin Watkins came in to pinch-run. Cesar Soto then singled and Besse was hit by a pitch. Yarger walked to force home Watkins. Cole Robinson chased home Soto and Besse with a double. An error by the shortstop on a ground ball off the bat of Noah Hemphill allowed another run to cross the plate. Then Tommy Patrick Jr. the singled home Robinson to round out the five run inning. MoBap was up 7-0 after two.
 
The Scots got their only run of the game on a double and two ground outs in the top of the third. At the time the score was 7-1.
 
However, the big inning for the Spartans was the third as they batted around for the second inning in a row. Besse singled and made it all the way to third on an error by the center fielder. He came home on a Yarger single. With one out, Robinson was hit by a pitch and Noah Hemphill reached on the second error of the inning to load the bases. Patrick Jr unloaded on a pitch…and unloaded the bases…in a hurry. His towering grand slam to left field gave his team a 12-1 cushion. DJ Schmidt started the rally all over again with a walk. Then it was Cesar Soto's turn to turn on a pitch and send it over the fence. The two-run bomb, his first of the season, made the score 14-1 for the home team.
 
A Patrick Jr. single and a DJ Schmidt triple added another run in the bottom of the fifth. Schmidt would then score on a Kouneski sacrifice fly to complete the scoring. The Spartans claimed a dominant 16-1 win over Lyon.
 
Young had a great bounce-back start after a rough outing against William Woods University last week. The senior from Vinton, La. threw a seven-inning complete game, giving up only a run on five hits, while walking one and striking out seven. The win for Young moves him to 5-2 on the season.
 
Five Spartans were hit by pitches in the game. Among the 12 hits for MBU were three home runs, three doubles and a triple. Patrick Jr. was three for three with five RBIs. Soto and Besse both collected two hits.
 
The Spartans and Scots will matchup one more time tomorrow afternoon at Spartan Baseball Field. Senior Day honoring six Spartans will begin shortly before first pitch at Noon.