NEVADA, Mo.- Missouri Baptist Softball took on Cottey College this weekend, April 22. In a hard-fought battle, the Spartans went into extra innings against the Comets but ultimately dropped both games.
 
GAME ONE
The first game in the double header against Cottey was a nail biter. Cottey got the ball rolling early putting up two in the second inning. MBU was able to answer with a run of their own in the top of the third. After Meghan Hager made it on a bunt, she moved around to second on a stolen base. Once in scoring position, Hager made it in on a pop-up hit by Abagail Cafolla to the right field. The fielder tripped on her way to ball, allowing Hager to make it home. Cottey came back at the bottom of the inning to put up another two runs.

The bats started heating up for the Spartans in the top of the fourth. Natalie Archer made it one base with a line drive to the right field. Kolby Brake was able to advance her on a ground ball down the left field line. Hager broughT both runners in on a pop up to the right field and safely made it to second. Following up with a pop up of her own to the right, Allison Leigraf was able to bring In Hager. After two strikeouts by Shelby Sievers and ground out by Leigraf, the Spartans ended the fourth tied with the Comets, 4-4.

The rest of the game neither team was able to break through the defense and score. The game went into extra innings. The eighth and ninth innings remained scoreless for both teams. Alexandria Cafolla entered in for Sievers on the mound in the ninth to try to shake things up. In the top of the tenth inning the Spartans were able to put on a couple runs. Ab. Cafolla, who started on second, made her way home on a ground ball up the middle by Sievers. Another run was scored by Madalyn Bone who made it one base with a pop up to left field. Molly McPheeters hit a pop up to center to bring in Bone. While the Spartans were able to pull ahead, the Comets were able to record two runs of their own in the inning.

The Spartans missed out on their chance to earn a run in the 11^th inning, leaving a runner on base. Cottey was able to score in the bottom of the 11^th, earning the win 7-6 after an intense game.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans were looking for revenge for the first game, starting things off hot in the first inning. Ab. Cafolla made it all the way to third on a pop up to the right field. She was able to beat out the throw from the fielder to make it to third base safely. Bone then stepped up and hit a little dinger to left field, bringing in Ab. Cafolla. Bone made it home herself on a ground mall through the left side by Sievers.

The Spartans were unable to maintain that lead as the Comets added a run in the bottom of the second, and two home runs in the third and fourth. Addison Rinderer came in to pitch for Al. Cafolla in the bottom of the fifth, trying to shut things down. Cottey scored once again in the sixth. The Spartans then pulled Rinderer and sent in McKenna Joern who didn't allow a run for the rest of the inning. The Spartans went down swinging the top of the seventh, unable to make up the distance the fell to Cottey 4-2.

Hoping to get back into the swing of things, the Softball will be taking on Freed-Hardeman University next week (April 25) for a non-conference double header starting at 2 PM.