Walnut Ridge, Ark.- The Spartans we're going up against one of the top team in the conference – Williams Baptist University. MBU walked into yesterday's (March 5) double header knowing that it wasn't going to be easy. Game one certainly was a battle with the lone run of the game coming in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Eagles win. The Spartans were able to turn the tide in the second game pulling ahead almost immediately, going on to win it 9-2.
 
GAME ONE
Looking at the stats, Missouri Baptist had the upper hand the whole game, putting up seven hits compared to Williams Baptists lone hit in the seventh. Despite this, the Spartans couldn't make them count ending the game without a single run.
 
Miranda Aladdin got a good base hit down the left field line to make it on in the first but was left stranded. In return Brooklynn Fischer was proving to be a challenge for WBU, striking out the first two batters. The next Eagle would take a ball to the arm to make her way in base, but Fischer was able to recover, striking out the last batter.
 
The Spartans would continue to make their way on base but couldn't find their way home. On the other side of things, Fischer tallied one strike after the next to sit down a total of nine batters throughout the game with the defense there to back her up when the Eagles made contact. Things changed in the seventh inning when Williams Baptist was able to gain some momentum. The Spartans started off the inning with their first two batters unable to make it through the defense. Meghan Hager kept MBU alive when she sent one into the left center gap for a double. Hager ended up stranded with the Eagles securing the last out on the next at bat. The Eagles immediately made it on with a walk which would ultimately be the Spartans downfall. That runner went on to score the winning run for WBU. Though she pitched a good game, Brooklynn Fischer would pick up her second loss of the season.  
 
GAME TWO
After their narrow loss in the first game, the Spartans really kicked it into high gear for game two. Hager led off the inning with a base hit to the short stop and moved around to second with a steal during the next at bat. Natalie Archer then stepped into the batter's box and hit a high fly ball out to right field. The ball bounced right off the end of the fielder's glove, allowing Archer to make it to first and Hager who went on contact to score the first run of the game. Alexandria Cafolla stepped into the circle for the Spartans when it was their turn in the field. The grad student was giving the Eagles trouble, with the first three batters unable to send a hit through the defense.
 
The Spartans put up more runs in the second to secure a solid 5-0 lead. Jenna Achs led off with a ground ball right to the short stop but was able to reach the base in time due to the fielder fumbling the ball. The sophomore was moved around into scoring position on a steal during the next at bat. Achs continued on to third when Kolby Brake hit a single out to the left field. Abby Wilson proceeds to knock down a well-placed bunt down the first base line, reaching first and bringing in Achs for the second run of the game. MBU didn't stop there as Hager next hit a fly ball that dropped right outside of the infield in front of the left fielder. Brake took that opportunity to go from second to home while Wilson Hager moved around an extra base on the throw. Miranda Ladson kept it going when she knocked down a bunt as well. The first baseman attempted the play at home, but Wilson was too fast for them, sprinting right through home plate for a run. Fischer wraps up the runs for the Spartans in the first inning with a ground ball out to right field to score Hager.
 
During their time in the field, the Spartans would once again sit down the first three batters to send them into the next inning. Though each team would manage to put a runner on in the third, neither was able to bring them home. In the top of the fourth, Hager would lead off with a single out to center field. The sophomore would remain at first until Natalie Archer sent a line drive down the left field line for the RBI double.
The Spartans would pick up another run in the fifth when Abby Wilson would double on a fly ball out to left field. Achs, who made it on first with a single to the short stop would power around the bases to make it home before the defense could even attempt to throw her out. Williams Baptist would go on to put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but MBU would take back those runs in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run single from Wilson to bring to score to 9-2. The Eagles did put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh, with two runners on but Al. Cafolla was able to strike out one batter while the infield retired the rest to earn the Spartans the win. Al. Cafolla earned her eighth win of the season, her sixth in a row.
 
The Spartans have a quick turnaround, playing Central Baptist today (March 6) starting at noon.