Lawrenceville, Ga.- Missouri Baptist was down in Georgia for the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The No. 4 seeded Spartans were taking on the No. 5 seeded Cougars of Spring Arbor University for the opening game of the tournament.

The Spartans started the game off slow. After the Cougars loaded the bases in the top of the first, they proceeded to put up three runs in the inning. MBU held the Cougars to a single run in the second, with Taylor Whitehead coming in to pitch for Brooklynn Fischer.
 
MBU had some ground to make up with the Spartans down 4-0 early in the game. Defensively, the Spartans were starting to shape up, shutting out SAU for the remainder of the game. Missouri Baptist really hit their stride in the bottom of the fifth with a big hit from Miranda Ladson. Kolby Brake started off the inning with a line drive out to the center fielder, making it safely to first. Ladson then stepped into the box and after watching the first ball go by the sophomore sent the ball well over the left field fence for a two-run homer.
 
The Spartans continued to narrow the gap in the sixth. Abagail Cafolla made it on to first with a fielder's choice and moved around to second on a wild pitch. Immediately after that the sophomore moved to third when Jenna Achs hit a single over to the second baseman. With runners on first and third, Achs made an attempt for second on what would have been a stolen base, but the ball went into the dirt and past the catcher allowing her to make it to second. At the same time, Ab. Cafolla seized her opportunity, sliding home to score on the wild pitch to bring it to a one run ball game. Achs did make her way to third on the play but was left stranded.
 
After a quick three up, three down with Whitehead striking out the last batter swinging, MBU was back up to bat for their last chance to turn the tides on SAU. Unfortunately MBU couldn't put up the runs necessary to keep them in the game. The Spartans dropped their first game in the NAIA Opening Round and will now be taking on Southeaster University tomorrow at 2:30 PM ET, weather permitting.