NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After suffering defeat for the first time in 27 days on Friday, the Missouri Baptist Spartans were not about to let it happen twice in a row. Behind the power of six home runs, MBU pounded Central Baptist College 19-4 in seven innings to win the weekend series two games to one.
 
The Spartans jumped on the Mustangs early and put up a crooked number in every inning except the second and third. Three Spartan hurlers were able to hold the Mustangs in check to the tune of four runs on six hits.
 
In the first inning, Blayne Yarger singled then scored on Alex Adams team-leading fifteenth home run. Later in the inning, Lucas Lefebvre singled home Cole Robinson for a 3-0 Spartan lead.
 
After the Mustangs scored two in the bottom of the first, Yarger figured in the scoring again in the top of the second by hitting a solo home run, his third homer in three games.
 
It was Blane Besse's turn to round the bases in the fourth inning when he connected for a three-run home run to score Cesar Soto and Jayden Orozco in front of him. By that time MBU enjoyed a 7-3 advantage.
 
Cameron Roll singled to start the fifth inning then later scored on a wild pitch. Yarger made sure the other two runners on base at the time came home to score when he hit his second home run of the game and fourth of the series, this one of the three-run variety to extend the Spartans lead to 11-3.
 
The Spartans added three more runs in the top of the sixth when Jakob Kouneski delivered a two-run home run, scoring Robinson. Later in the inning, Roll scored for the second time via a wild pitch to make the lead 14-3.
 
Back-to-back RBI doubles in the top of the seventh by Adams and Robinson pushed the lead to 16-4, then Kevin Watkins finished off the scoring for MBU with a three-run home run, his second of the season.
 
Starting pitcher Jackson Wells was the beneficiary of the Spartans' power surge, although he hardly needed it. The Centralia, Mo. native pitched five innings while giving up five hits and three runs, although only one was earned. He walked four and struck out five to improve his record to 6-1 on the season. Tyler Hedtkamp made his long-awaited pitching debut for the Spartans in the sixth inning. The senior from Arnold, Mo. set the Mustangs down in order while recording two strikeouts. A series of injuries have slowed his progress toward contributing on the mound for the Spartans, but he was stellar in his first opportunity. Usual-closer Skout Rallo pitched the seventh and gave up a run on a walk and a double.
 
Yarger finished the game four for five, with two home runs, a double, four RBIs, and four runs scored. In the three-game series he hit .538 (7 for 13) with four home runs and 11 RBI. Besse and Adams also had three RBIs in Saturday's game. After just four hits in the game two loss on Friday, the Spartans answered the bell with 19 hits on Saturday, with six of them leaving the yard.
 
With the win, the Spartans now stand at 23-8 overall and 8-1 in the American Midwest Conference, which is good for second behind Columbia College, who has yet to lose an AMC game. MBU will take the field again on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at home against Park University. The Spartans beat the Pirates 15-3 in Parkville, Mo. on March 19. MBU will host William Woods University next weekend when they re-enter conference play.