St. Louis - Softball was up against (24) Saint Xavier University for their second home doubleheader of the year. They swept the Cougars last year and were looking for a repeat performance.
 
GAME ONE
Brooklynn Fischer started out the inning on top, sitting down the first two batters. SXU then took the momentum back by winning the count and getting on with a walk. The next batter would then step up and hit a double to put the first point of the game on the board. MBU would answer right back, scoring a run themselves. Meghan Hager made it on with a bunt that popped up and caught the third baseman unprepared. Allison Leigraf then moved her around, but it was Abagail Cafolla who brought her in with a base hit just out of reach of the second baseman.

In the second inning, the Spartans were in a dangerous position with the Cougars loading the bases. They were able to get out of it with Fischer striking out two batters and fielding a ground ball to throw out the lead runner at home. The Spartans would finish up the inning unable to score a run. The next few innings would continue to go by scoreless until the top of the fifth when a Cougar hit a home run to put them on top 2-1.

The Spartans found themselves down by one heading into the seventh inning. Defense came in clutch to send them into the bottom of the inning without SXU putting up any more runs. Miranda Ladson shut down the first batter up when she slid on her knees to stop the ground ball and made the throw to first where Kolby Brake scooped it up to secure the out. The next batter did make it on with a walk, but they were soon out on the next play. The next batter hit a ground ball to Fischer who threw it to Ladson at second to get out the lead runner. Ladson then made an attempt for a double play by throwing out the runner at first, but they narrowly beat the throw. Even though they narrowly missed out on the double play, Ladson soon made quick work of the next batter, fielding the ground ball to throw her out at first.

The Spartans were finally back up to bat for their last chance to tie it up. Jenna Achs made it on base with a hit down the left field line. Amber Cage proceeded to move Achs around with a sacrifice bunt. Hager then stepped up to bat and made it to first by beating out the throw after a hit landed just in front of the catcher. Achs took advantage of the catcher not paying attention to slide home to tie it up. With that single run on the board, the Spartans were able to send the game into extra innings.

After the first batter made it on for SXU, the Spartans made quick work of the next three to send them into the bottom of the inning. Fisher opened up the Spartans' at-bat by hitting a double out to center field. Isabella Schlemmer then stepped up and popped it up right over second base to make it on and move Fischer to third. Archer then grounded out to second, moving Wilson to second base who had come in to pinch run. Ladson was up to bat and after watching a ball go by, the sophomore hit a line drive up the middle to bring in Fischer and win the game.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans made quick work of the Cougars in the top of the first. While the lead-off batter made it on with a bunt, Archer threw out the next who attempted the same thing. Ladson then fielded the next ball to throw out the runner at first, and Alexandria Cafolla struck out the next to send them into the bottom of the inning. The first two Spartans were thrown out at first, bringing Fischer up to bat. The sophomore was soon facing a full count and before the ball left the pitcher's hand, Coach Leigraf was saying bye-bye ball. Fischer proceeded to launc the ball over the center field fence for a home run. The next few innings, defense would take care of business, fending off the Cougars' attack. In turn, SXU would shut down the Spartans' attempt to put up more runs.

In inning four, the Spartans got things going again. After taking care of the first three batters, MBU was back up to bat. Ladson was up in the batter's box and hit a long fly ball on the first pitch. The ball made its way out to the left-field fence where it went just over the left fielder's glove and out of the park for Ladson's first home run of the season. Ladson's run would put the Spartans on top 2-0. In inning five, would go by with neither team adding a run to the board. SXU would then put up their first run in the top of the sixth. With two down and a runner on second and third, a Cougar stepped up and hit a single to left-center to tie up the game. Things were tied up going into the seventh, and the inning went by with neither team scoring. Once again, the game was going into extra innings. MBU made quick work of SXU, with Al. Cafolla striking out the first batter and Leigraf and Hager making plays to sit down the next two.

Achs led things off for the Spartans, hitting a line drive up the middle to make it on first. Hager followed up with a walk, moving Achs into scoring position. Leigraf then stepped up and moved both runners around with a sacrifice bunt. After another out, Ab. Cafolla was up to bat. The sophomore finished things off with a line drive up the middle to bring in Achs for the winning run.

The Spartans swept the Cougars, taking care of SXU in back-to-back extra-inning games. Both Brooklynn Fischer and Alexandria Cafolla would add a win to their stats with the pitchers striking out 8 and 9 batters respectively. Meghan Hager and Abagail Cafolla would lead the team in hits for game one with three apiece. While six batters would have a run each in the second game, two of those being home runs from Brooklynn Fischer and Miranda Ladson.

Next, MBU will be back at home once again to take on Evangel University on March 5 before they head down to Florida for Spring Break.