ST. LOUIS- The Spartans were back to it for their last regular season conference game against Harris-Stowe State University. At the same time it was the last home game for MBU, with the team celebrating seven graduating seniors. Kolby Brake, Amber Cage, Molly Callihan, McKenna Joern, Jordan Pearson, Isabella Schlemmer and Jackie Stewart were the seven seniors honored before the game.
 
GAME ONE
The Spartans bats were hot in game one against HSSU. MBU put up a total of 18 runs in the five innings it took to shut out the Hornets. Senior, Jordyn Pearson got her start in the circle for MBU. After, the first batter reached on a hit out to center, Pearson didn't make it easy for the next three batters, with all of them done in by the defense.
 
The Spartans were down two at the beginning of the inning but that has never been a deterrent. Miranda Ladson, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice, was able to gain a couple of bases on a wild pitch and a passed ball. With Ladson waiting at third for a base hit, Brake stepped into the batter's box. After watching the first pitch go by, the senior smacked a line drive up the middle to bring home Ladson for the first run of the game. Allison Leigraf followed that up by reaching on a error when the first baseman couldn't secure the throw. Jenna Achs then stepped up and loaded the bases on a single to third. Senior, Isabella Schlemmer was able to stay alive after the first baseman committed an error once again. With the ball going astray, both Brake and Leigraf were able to make it home, bringing the score 3-0.
 
After a quick top of the second with Brooklynn Fischer in the circle, MBU was back up to bat. The Spartans added a couple of runs after both Meghan Hager and Brooklynn Fischer made their way on base. Both made their way into scoring position with a couple of stolen bases. Brake was in the batter's box and after watching a couple of balls go by the senior sent another line drive past the infield to score Hager and Fischer.
 
The hits kept coming in the bottom of the third as MBU doubled their points on the board. Schlemmer, who led off the inning with a base hit was brought in when, after being moved around to third by fellow senior Molly Callihan, sped down the third field line on a single by Hager. Hager scored herself after moving around to third when Ladson hit a ground ball that the second baseman couldn't handle. Soon after the bases were loaded with Leigraf up to bat. The sophomore sent a ground ball out to center field, bringing in both Ladson and Fischer. Jenna Achs would wrap up the runs in the bottom of the third with a ground ball also out to center field to score Brake.
 
Going into the top of the fourth, the Spartans saw another pitching change with Ashleigh Davis making her way into the circle. After letting a hit go by, Davis shut down the next batter, throwing her out at first and struck out the next. The final batter grounded out to senior Amber Cage at second, to wrap up the inning.
 
Cage was right back to it, reaching first on an error by the first baseman. After making it around to third on a base hit up the middle by Callihan, Cage was brought in on a fielder's choice by Hager. The bases were soon loaded, and Hager was brought in next when Brake hit a soft liner out to left, with the ball glancing off the fielder's glove. Leigraf was back up with the bases loaded once again. The sophomore knocked a line drive out to left field herself to score Ladson who was waiting at third. Achs kept it going, moving the runners up a base with a fly ball out to left field to score Fischer. The Spartans didn't stop there. Schlemmer stepped into the batter's box and hit a ball out to left field to secure two RBI and make her way to second. MBU had batted around the line up, bringing Cage back up to wrap up the runs scored. With a double out to center field, both Schlemmer and Achs made it safely home.
 
Pearson stepped back into the circle to close out the game for MBU. A quick three-up, three-down secured MBU their first win of the day. The Spartans prevailed over HSSU in five with a score of 18-0.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans didn't get as many runs in on game two but they were still able to finish off the Hornets in five innings. Senior, McKenna Joern was the starting pitcher for MBU this go around. After the first three Hornets grounded out, MBU was up for their first at bat of the game. Hager opened up the inning with a pop up that landed just behind the third baseman. Ladson was then able to make it on base with another error by the first baseman, moving Hager around to third. With some smart base running by Ladson and Hager, Hager was able to steal home for the first run of the game. Ladson scored the next run of the game when she went from second to home on a base hit up the middle by Abagail Cafolla.
 
The Spartans went the next inning by without putting up another run. At the same time, defensively they were able to hold off HSSU, sitting down the first three batters. The third inning was when they got back into the swing of things, putting up another two runs. Hager was on after taking a ball to the arm and made her way around to third with some smart base running. Fischer brought Hager home when she grounded out to second base. Ladson, who made it on earlier with a walk, was brought in next when Ab. Cafolla grounded out to the short stop.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Spartans made their way just under the necessary runs to end the game in five. Leading off the at bat, Hager and Brake made their way onto first and third. During Ladson's at bat Hager made her attempt at stealing second, drawing the throw from the catcher. The Hornets tried to make the attempt at home instead to throw out Brake speeding down the third base line, but the senior was able to beat out the throw. Ladson then finished out her at bat by hitting a double out to left field to bring in Hager. Fischer then hit a line drive out to center field to score Ladson, bringing the score 7-0.
 
In the top of the fifth, HSSU made their attempt, with their first runner on with a base hit out to center. A sac bunt moved her around, but Joern struck out the next two batters to shut down the Hornets. Going into the bottom of the inning, the Spartans knew they had to put up a run to end things in five innings. Achs led things off with a single over to second base. The sophomore moved around into scoring position with a steal and was in put up the last run of the game. Natalie Archer then switched places with Achs to end the game with a double out to the left field fence.  
 
The Spartans ended it 8-0, with McKenna Joern earning her first shutout of the season.
 
With their sweep of Harris-Stowe, the Spartans wrapped up their regular season conference play with a record of 16-2, currently leading the AMC. They will get a couple more games in before heading into the conference tournament, taking on Friends University and Avila University next Friday (April 26) and Saturday (April 27).