Mesquite, Texas- Day two of the SAC NAIA Invite was in the books with MBU taking on some top NAIA teams. With a good first day, MBU was looking to carry that over into the second but ended up losing their first matchup. While the first game was rough, they ended up bouncing back and shutting down their second opponent in six innings.
 
Game One vs. (9) Oklahoma City University
 
MBU was going up against a tough ranked opponent for their first match up of the day. They proved to be an opponent MBU was unable to overcome. The Stars put up a quick four runs in the first inning, which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Spartans were unable to find their way onto base until Meghan Hager hit a single to center field. Hager proceeded to use her speed to steal second base but was left stranded with the next three batters out.
 
The Spartans were doing all they could to hold back OKC's offensive onslaught. Unfortunately the Stars kept racking up the runs, adding another in the second inning and three more in the fourth. Natalie Archer found her way on base by winning the count. After making it on base with a walk, Emily Wright came in to pinch run for the catcher. Wright did make it into scoring position, taking advantage on a passed ball to make it to second base, but was left on base. The top of the fifth OKC added two more runs, bringing the total to ten. MBU only had one last chance to get onto the board, but the hits weren't going through. The Spartans ultimately fell to the Stars 10-0 in five innings.
 
Game Two vs. Friends University
 
MBU and the Falcons were evenly matched the first two innings. After Brooklynn Fischer made quick work of the FU players in the bottom of the second, striking out all three, MBU was back up to bat. It initially looked like it was going to be another quick inning. The Spartans were two down and Amber Cage was the lone runner to make it one base. Meghan Hager then stepped up and hit a line drive to left field, moving Cage around to third. Abagail Cafolla followed up with a line drive to the right fielder, advancing Hager to third and bringing in Cage for the first run of the game.
 
Friends did manage to take the lead in the next inning. With a runner already on base, a Falcon stepped up and hit a home run to bring the score 2-1, FU. MBU did not take that lying down. Wright immediately gets on base by winning the count. After Sheldon Underwood came in for the freshman as a pinch runner, she stole second to make it into scoring position. Right after Hager lays down a bunt to move Underwood to third. With batters at first and third, Ab. Cafolla was back up to bat. Taking advantage of the situation, Hager stole second. Ab. Cafolla soon made it on with a walk and the bases were now loaded. What better player to step up to the plate in that situation than Fischer who hit three home runs the day prior. That number was now four as the sophomore launched one over the right field fence for a grand slam. MBU closed out the inning on top 5-2.
 
The Spartans took their momentum from the previous inning and carried it over to the sixth. Cage found herself back on base, this time with a walk, and moved around to second with a steal. With Cage in scoring position, Hager stepped up and hit a ground ball to third. With a bad throw coming from the third baseman she easily made it onto first. Taking advantage of the opportunity Cage made her way home. Ab. Cafolla proceeded to make it on with the exact same play and another error for the third baseman. With runners at first and third, Fischer was back up to bat. This time the sophomore hit a ground ball to center field, bringing in Hager.
 
Things didn't end there. Brake loaded up the bases, making it on with a walk. Jenna Achs followed up with a walk of her own, moving everyone around and bringing in Ab. Cafolla. Allison Leigraf then stepped up to the plate and hit a hard ground ball to the left field, bringing in Wilson who came in to pinch run for Fischer earlier in the inning. The scoring only continued from there. Ladson brought in Brake with the fourth walk of the inning. The FU pitcher was really struggling to throw a strike as she hit Cage on the next at bat, bringing in Achs. The Spartans put up their final run of the game when Wright hit a ground ball to the second baseman to score Leigraf.
 
Friends was down by 10 coming into the bottom of the sixth and therefore had to put runs on the board if they wanted to go the full seven innings. Taylor Whitehead started off the inning in the circle, but after Friends put two on the board Alexandria Cafolla soon came in to finish off the game. The graduate student proceeded to strike out the next two batters, ending the game.
 
MBU split on their second day down in Texas and would be finish things up this afternoon (Feb 10) starting at 2:50 PM against (6) University of Science and Arts.