Kansas City, Mo.-  Yesterday (April 27) the Spartans were going up against another team on the NAIA Receiving Votes list- Avila University. MBU took care of business in the first game, completely shutting down Avila in five innings. The second game was a battle, with Avila up early into the game but ultimately the Spartans fell, earning a split on the day.
 
GAME ONE
Missouri Baptist started off by putting up a run shortly into the first inning. Meghan Hager kicked off the top of the first with a soft line drive out to left. Brooklynn Fischer brought her in went she hit a fly ball that went just past the right fielder's glove. Shortly after the Spartans were sent into the bottom of the inning, with Taylor Whitehead in the circle. The first two batters grounded out to Allison Leigraf at third with Whitehead striking out the last.
 
MBU was back up to bat in the second, adding even more runs to their total. Jenna Achs started them off with another single out to left field. The sophomore was moved around when Kolby Brake sent a base hit up the middle. Amber Cage then stepped into the batter's box and on her very first pitch, hit a long fly ball over the center fielder to score Achs. Cage herself was brought in when Miranda Ladson hit a sacrifice fly to the left fielder to bring in the Spartans third run of the game. Fischer was back at it when she launched a fly ball out to left to bring in both Meghan Hager and Emily Wright. The Spartans then went back out to the field and made quick work of the Eagles. It was another three up, three down with Whitehead recording another two strikeouts.
 
The third inning, MBU would fail to add a run, but they would continue to completely shut down Avila with another three outs in a row. The Spartans were back at it in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Abagail Cafolla stepped up to bat and hit a sac fly out to right, allowing Hager to score. Now with runners at first and third, Leigraf stepped into the batter's box. Taking advantage of the situation, Fischer was able to steal second and put herself in a good position for Leigraf to bring her home. The sophomore did just that when she launched a fly ball just inside the left field foul line to record the two RBI just before being thrown out at second.
 
The bottom of the fourth went by fast with yet another 3 outs in a row. The Eagles tried shaking things up in the fifth with a new pitcher. Both Brake and Cage were able to make it on with a pair of walks but were left stranded to keep the score 8-0. If the Spartans wanted to end it early, they needed to keep Avila off the board. The first batter popped up to Cage at second with the next two flying out to Hager in center field. With the last out recorded, MBU secured their first win against the Eagles.

Whitehead really took care of business in the circle. Not only did Avila fail to put up a single run, they were unable to earn a single hit. The junior struck out a total of six batters and didn't walk a single one. With no errors on the day for the Spartans, Whitehead earned herself a perfect game against a tough Avila team.
 
GAME TWO
The Spartans had a slow start in game two. Avila put up two runs in the first and MBU was never able to make up the difference. The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the third with a sac bunt to Leigraf at third.
 
MBU finally made it on the board in the top of the fourth with a base hit from Leigraf. Fischer started off the inning with a single out to left and moved around to second on a wild pitch. Archer then hit a single out to center field to move Fischer to third. Leigraf brought her in with a hit through the left side to put MBU on the board.
 
Avila was able to gain back the run in the sixth, bringing the score 4-1.  It was the Spartans' last chance to even the score. Kayla Kindler started off the top of the seventh pinch hitting for Brake and made it on after the third baseman threw it into the ground. Ashleigh Davis then came in and moved her around with a base hit out to left. The bases were loaded right after, when Alexandria Cafolla took a pitch to the arm putting her on first. Abby Wilson then came in to run for Al. Cafolla. Next up, Hager hit a line drive right back to the pitcher where it went off her glove and over to the short stop. Though Hager was thrown out at first, the sophomore was able to move around the base runners and bring home Kindler. Ladson then stepped into the batter's box, and after bringing it to a full count, sent a fly ball way out into foul territory in left field. The defenseman was able to make the catch but after tagging up at third base, Davis was able to make it safely home. The Spartans were able to bring it to a one run game but were unable to put up that last run to earn tie it up with MBU falling 4-3 to Avila.
 
Despite the split with the Eagles, the Spartans still put up a solid performance with Whitehead earning the coveted perfect game. MBU ended their regular season with a record of 32-10. They will be walking into the conference tournament with the number one seed after claiming the regular season title for the second year in a row, this being their first outright. MBU will be kicking things off against University of Health-Sciences and Pharmacy on April 30^th.