ST. LOUIS- In a double header matchup, the Spartans swept Lyon College this weekend (April 4). The team put on an impressive performance against the Scotts with a shutout and a no hitter on the day.
 
GAME ONE
Shelby Sievers was on the mound for the Spartans in game one. The defense was on top of their game, making standout plays to secure the win.
 
Madalyn Bone had a great play in the top of the first inning. She caught a line and then threw out the runner at third before she was able to make it back, earning the double play. In the top of second, the first out came from a sliding catch into the right field fence by Molly McPheeters. The next two came from the second double play of the day by Allison Leigraf. The St. Louis native caught the line drive and threw out the runner at second.
 
In the bottom of the second, Natalie Archer hit a pop up on the right field line. The fielder was unable to catch it, and Archer made it to second and continued on to third on the throw. Abagail Cafolla then made it to first on the ball glancing off first baseman's glove. Natalie Archer was able to score on the error, earning the first run of the game. Ab. Cafolla proceeded to steal second and third on the next two at bats but ended up stranded at third.  
 
Another standout play came in the top of the fourth. Leigraf had a diving play to make the throw to Kolby Brake at first who scooped up the ball to secure the third out. In the bottom of the fourth. Ab. Cafolla made it to first on another error, this time by the shortstop. Ab. Cafolla then added another two steals to her name, bringing her total to four. Meghan Hager had a hard hit that went off the second baseman to bring in Ab. Cafolla for their second run of the game.
 
Ellie Wessel made it to first on the error by the second baseman in the bottom of the fifth. She moved to second on a successful fake bunt by Bone. Sheldon Underwood then came in to replace Wessel at second. With the hit by Sievers going under the glove of the third baseman, the bases were loaded with no outs. McPheeters stepped up and with a hard hit going into the pitcher's shin, both Underwood and Bone made it home. Archer then hit a pop up to center field, earning the sacrifice fly with Sievers scoring on the throw. ­­After recording the last out in the fifth, the next two innings flew by and the Spartans picked up the win, 5-0. Sievers earned another shut out on the season.
 
GAME TWO
Alexandria Cafolla started off the first inning with three strikeouts in a row, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
 
McPheeters started off things in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle. Sievers then made it on base with a walk. Both runners then advanced with a pair of steals. Archer followed up with a hard hit through the left side, bringing in McPheeters for the first run of the game. Sievers and Archer both moved into scoring position on a bunt by Wessel, who was thrown out at first. The Spartans had an attempt to score on a bunt by Brake, but Sievers was tagged out at home. Archer made it home with the fielders tied up on a bunt by Hager, bringing the score 2-0.
 
On the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth, Sievers hits a line drive to left field for a stand up double. Archer was able to move her around with a hit that went off the third baseman's glove. The shortstop was able to recover the ball to throw her out at first. Wessel stepped up to bat and hit a single that bounced over the shortstop's glove to bring in Sievers. Brake was able to make it on base with her second walk of the game. After a ball bounced off the catcher, both Brake and Wessel were able to advance a base. With a well-placed slap, Hager made it through the right side to bring in both Wessel and Brake. The freshman then stole second to make it into scoring position. Leigraf joined Hager on base after winning the count. Isabella Schlemmer furthered the score with a line drive to the left field bringing in Hager. On a hit just left of the second base bag by Bone, Leigraf scored. McPheeters followed up with a fly ball that the right fielder was unable to hold on to. Erica Wright who, pinch ran for Schlemmer, made it in on the dropped ball and Bone followed on the throw. The game thus ended by run rule with the Spartans up 8-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Al. Cafolla earned her first no hitter with the Spartans.
 
Next for the Spartans, they will be continuing conference play with a double header against Harris-Stowe State University on April 13.