ST. LOUIS- After an extended period of time off due a couple of games being rained out, the Spartans were finally back in action. MBU was going up against Hannibal-LaGrange University for the first of three home doubleheaders on the week.
 
GAME ONE
Brooklynn Fischer kicked off game one by striking out the lead off batter. After that a couple Trojans managed to make it on base with a couple well placed hits. HLGU almost had two runners in scoring position but a quick reaction from Emily Wright behind the plate led to MBU catching the runner trying to steal second. The Spartans were able to get out of the inning when Fischer struck out the last batter looking.  
 
The Spartans time at the plate came and the Trojans defense proved to be no match. Both Meghan Hager and Miranda Ladson made it on with a couple of base hits. Fischer then stepped up and hit a ground ball that made its way out to right field. This allowed Hager to speed her way around the bases to make it home for the first run of the game. Abagail Cafolla followed up with a big hit out to the center field fence for a double, bringing in both Ladson and Fischer. Archer would then make it on by watching four balls go by, and the Spartans now had runners at first and second. Allison Leigraf brought both runners in when she sent a line drive down the left field line for a double. Jenna Achs brought the Spartans run count to six when she hit a single over the head of the pitcher to bring in Leigraf. With that, the Spartans had a solid foundation going into the rest of the game.
 
After the Spartans made quick work of HLGU in the top of the second, MBU went on to put up another two runs. Ladson secured a lead off walk and moved to second when Fischer hit a ground ball out to the left fielder. Ab. Cafolla was then back up to bat and hit another double out to left field and bringing in Ladson. Archer kept it going with a ground ball up middle to bring in Fischer, bringing the score 8-0.
 
Hannibal-LaGrange would go one to score a run in the third, to prevent Fischer from earning the shut out. In the fourth the Spartans would add another three runs to put them ahead by 10. Both Fischer and Ab. Cafolla kicked off the Spartans at bat by making it on with back to back walks. Archer would then bring in Fischer with a double out to center field. Leigraf, though she was throw out at first, earned the RBI with Ab. Cafolla safe at home. Jenna Achs wrapped up the scoring plays when she grounded out to second base, giving Archer time to make it home. After a quick three up three down in the top of the fifth, MBU won their first game of the day 11-1
 
Fischer picked up her 12th win of the season, striking out seven batters in five innings.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans had a slow start to the game, with HLGU putting up a run early into the inning. Taylor Whitehead got her start in the circle and was able to dig her way out of it by sitting down the last two outs to send MBU up to bat.
 
The hits were there for MBU as they evened things up and then some with four runs in the bottom of the first. Hager and Ladson both made it on base with Hager taking a ball to the arm and Ladson on with a walk. Fischer then stepped into the batters box and after watching a ball go by, launched a bomb over the left field fence for a three-run home run. Achs brought the score to 4-1 when she hit into a fielders choice with the defense making the attempt at home. Archer was able to avoid the tag to make it home safely.
 
After halting the Trojans in the top of the second, Fischer got the Spartans gong with a line drive up the middle. After Ab. Cafolla made it one with a base hit through the left side, they moved around into scoring position when Archer fouled out to the right fielder. Allison Leigraf then stepped up and hit a ground ball bringing in Fischer. Achs then went to work at the plate. After Leigraf made her way to second trying to tempt the catcher to throw her out while stealing. With runners now at second and third Achs hit a line drive out to left to record two RBI and advanced to second on the Trojans throw to home. The Spartans kept on rolling. Kolby Brake hit a ground ball, causing the short stop to make the diving play but the senior was able to beat out the throw. Brake continue on to second with a stolen base during the next at bat. Wilson then hit a ground ball that made it through to left field to score both Achs and Brake. Hager sent a fly ball out into the left center gap for a triple, bringing in Wilson. Fischer was then back up to bat, and with another line drive out to center, brought in another two runs.
 
The third inning would go by fast with neither team finding a good opportunity to score. In the top of the fourth, Whitehead struck out all three batters to bring MBU up to bat for the last time. Wilson started the Spartans off by making it on with an error by the shortstop. Amber Cage then went out as a pinch runner and preceded to steal second. Kayla then had her time in the batters box and sent a ground ball up the middle to bring in Cage. Ashleigh Davis was up next and after watching the first strike go by, sent a ground ball out to center field, bringing in Kindler. Isabella Schlememer then hit a ground ball out to center field, moving Davis to third and reaching second on the throw. Ab. Cafolla the ground out to the short stop but was able to earn the RBI with Davis making it home.  With their three runs on the ininng, MBU was now up 15-1. Whitehead struck out the first batter after taking it to a full count. The next out would come when the batter grounded out to Wilson at second. Whitehead then finished off the Trojans by striking out the last batter.
 
Whitehead secured her fifth win of the season, striking out eight batters in five innings.
 
The Spartans will be right back at it with another conference double header Friday, April 19^th against UHSP.