OZARK, Mo. – The Missouri Baptist Spartans built a big lead early on Tuesday against Mission University (Mo.) but it wasn't until a seven run eighth inning that they were actually able to put the Patriots away by a final of 18-9.
 
As has been their custom, the MBU offense started quick and carried them to victory by a wide margin, counting five home runs and 22 hits to their credit. The Spartans scored five runs in the first three innings, then matched the Patriots score for score until the eighth, with both teams scoring three in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh.  At that point MBU had the lead, but only 11-7. Then a seven run eighth gave them breathing room, despite giving up two in the bottom of the inning.
 
The Spartans three and four men in the batting order, Alex Adams and Cole Robinson, carried much of the weight of the offense, with a bit of an assist from Joe Schmidt. Adams finished three for five at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored. Robinson's day was brought to you by the number two. He was two for two with two two-run homers. The home runs were his fourteenth and fifteenth of the season, placing him third on the team in that category. Schmidt, who came in to play first base for Robinson, continued the production in the clean-up spot by hitting his own three-run homer as part of that seven-run eighth inning.
 
Jayden Orozco and Blayne Yarger also homered in the game for MBU. This is the sixth instance this season when the Spartans have had five or more home runs in a game. The round-tripper for Yarger is his sixteenth of the season, tying him with Adams for the team lead.
 
Catcher Jakob Kouneski pitched in with four hits in five at bats. Right fielder Cameron Roll had three hits in five at bats.
 
From a pitching perspective, Tuesday's game was by every definition a "bullpen game" for MBU. Brady Stephan got the start and lasted three innings, giving up one run on three hits with a walk and no strikeouts. He was followed to the hill by Tony Caldwell, Greg Ryun, Spencer Smith, Tyler Hedtkamp, and Skout Rallo. All of them, except for Rallo, had blemishes on their pitching stats in the contest. Because Stephan did not pitch the requisite five innings to be eligible, Ryun, who pitched an inning while giving up a run on a hit with one walk and two strikeouts, was credited with the win, his first of the season.
 
These same two teams will matchup again next Tuesday, this time with MBU hosting. The Spartans return to American Midwest Conference action this weekend when they start a three-game weekend series with Williams Baptist University with a doubleheader scheduled for Friday.