Columbia, Mo.- The Spartans faced off against Columbia College on day two of their road trip down I-70. The first game of the doubleheader against the Cougars was a close one with MBU pulling out the win 3-0. The Spartans really found their stride in the second, scoring six runs to earn their second win of the day.
 
GAME ONE
The first inning went by in a flash as the first three Spartans grounded out to send MBU into the field. Brooklynn Fischer was in the circle for the Spartans and struck out the first two Cougars who stepped up to bat with the last fouling out to Abagail Cafolla in left field. The second inning went by with both teams leaving a runner on base. MBU continued to make contact but couldn't make it through the defense until the third inning.
It was the top of the third and MBU soon found themselves with two outs and nobody on. Meghan Hager was back up to bat and after taking the count 0-2, the sophomore took a pitch to the foot, placing her on first. Ladson then stepped up and hit a single over the third baseman's head. The Spartans found themselves in a really good spot when Fischer, after taking the pitcher to a full count, watched the last ball go by for a bases loading walk. Natalie Archer then stepped into the batter box and sent a fly ball right into the left center gap for a double, clearing the bases and putting MBU on the board.

The Spartans would come close a couple more times to scoring but the big hit from Archer would win the the game. Defense was dialed in with the Spartans sitting down the first three batter up in almost every inning except the second and the seventh. The Cougars were close to making it on the board during the seventh with a runner at third, but the Spartans were able to get out of it to win the game 3-0.

Fischer ended the game with her third shutout in a row, striking out a total of six batters.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans were getting their hits in early during game two against the Cougars. Again, the Spartans were making contact but were unable to get through the Cougars defense.  Columbia was in the same position as the MBU behind the plate, making contact but the Spartans were shutting down their opportunities.

MBU finally got on the board in the top of the fourth. Ab. Cafolla led off the inning by hitting a double all the way out to the left field fence. The sophomore moved around to third on bunt by Jenna Achs who made it safely to first. Kolby Brake brought in Ab. Cafolla when she sent a high sacrifice fly out to center field, giving Ab. Cafolla plenty of time to make it home.

The Spartans kept it going in the fifth, putting up another three runs. Hager was on once again after being hit by another pitch. Ladson moved her around when she grounded out to second base, putting Hager into scoring position. Fischer then hit a ground ball up the middle, bringing in Hager for the second run of the game. With the center fielder fumbling the ball, Fischer had plenty of time to make it to second base. Archer kept it going after being granted new life on a near foul catch play by the Cougars. After fouling it off a couple more times, Archer hit a line drive over the second baseman, for an RBI single. Archer herself went on to score after making it to third on a fly ball by Allison Leigraf. The throw into the short stop at second base was misplayed by the fielder giving Archer the opportunity to make the attempt for home. The senior made it home safely after already making it halfway to home before the fielder could make the throw to the catcher. With the throw going wide, Archer was able to slide home completely unopposed for the run.

The runs didn't stop there as MBU put up another point in the top of the sixth to give them a solid lead heading into the last inning of the game. Brake led off the inning with ground ball through the left side for a lead off single. After stealing second when the ball made it passed the catcher, Brake moved around to third when Hager knocked down a bunt on the very next pitch. With runners at first and third, Ladson was back up to bat. The Jackson, Mo. native hit a sacrifice fly right to the center fielder and after tagging up Brake sprinted down the left field line to score a run.

The Spartans wrapped the game up nicely in the seventh. After making it on with a base hit to right field, Ab. Cafolla moved around into scoring position when Leigraf hit a single out to the center fielder. Achs brought her home with a ground ball to right field, allowing Ab. Cafolla to continue around the bases to home for the final run of the game.  

The Spartans shut down the next three batters to secure the win 6-0. Alexandria Cafolla earned another shutout of her own after pitching the full seven innings, her third of the season.

With their sweep of Columbia, the Spartans bring their winning streak into double digits- now at 10. Next on the schedule for MBU is a matchup against Williams Baptist University on April 5 in Walnut Ridge, Ark.