KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Coming into the NAIA Baseball Championship Tournament all systems were go for the 11^th-ranked Missouri Baptist Spartans to take off and make a long playoff run. However, on Monday in Kingsport, Tenn. they stumbled out of the blocks, losing their first game of the tournament 10-1 to 20^th-ranked Bryan College (Tenn.)
 
The trouble started early as for the second time in as many games the ace of the pitching staff and AMC Pitcher of the Year Anthony Green failed to advance through four innings. Green cruised through the first three innings, allowing no hits and just two walks, while striking out three. But the fourth inning proved to be his undoing. After walking the leadoff hitter, the St. Louis native was able to retire the next two batters. However, the next seven batters reached base on three walks, the first three hits of the game for the Lions, and an error. Before the inning was complete Bryan had plated five runs, only two of them earned, to gain a 5-1 lead. Green's final numbers were three and two/thirds innings pitched, allowing three hits and striking out three, with an uncharacteristic six walks, four in the fourth inning. It is the second straight loss for Green after starting the season 11-0.
 
In all, the Spartans sent four pitchers to the hill and walked nine Bryan hitters. Over their last four games, MBU pitching has surrendered 51 hits and 36 runs, while walking 17 yet striking out 29.
 
The Spartans actually scored first in the game in the bottom of the third when Noah Hemphill doubled, advanced to third on a DJ Schmidt single, then scored on a Jakob Kouneski sacrifice fly. It would be the Spartans only run of the game, and only twice did they have a runner reach third base for the rest of the game. MBU had five hits in the final six innings.
 
Meanwhile the Lions scored three more runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to really put the game out of reach.
 
Blane Besse, Blayne Yarger, and Alex Adams all had two hits in the game, with Kouneski accounting for the only RBI.
 
Despite the loss the Spartans will play an elimination game tomorrow to keep their post-season hopes alive. It will be a tough test though, as the top-seeded and ninth-ranked Webber International University (Fla.) Warriors were also upended in their opening game against Indiana Wesleyan University. Tomorrow's game will pit the ninth- and eleventh-ranked teams in the country, and the loser will have their season end. The game gets underway at 10:00 a.m. Central time.