Lawrenceville, Ga.- Missouri Baptist was up against Southeastern University for their second game of the NAIA Opening Round. Both teams were fighting to stay alive, knowing that one would be heading home after the game, having each already suffered a loss.
 
The Spartans took a while to hit their stride against the Fire. After leaving runners stranded in the top of the first inning, the Spartans found themselves reeling when SEU sent a couple of hits through, bringing in two runs. The top of the second went much like the second with MBU unable to put a point on the board. Defensively things started to click for MBU. With Brooklynn Fischer in the circle for the Spartans, SEU didn't have an easy time behind the plate. The bottom of the second went by fast with the Spartans sitting down all three batters.
 
The top of the third is where everything came together for MBU. Mirand Ladson led off the inning for the Spartans. The sophomore stepped into the batter's box and proceeded to knock one out of the park, putting the Spartans on the board with her second home run of the tournament. Two outs later, Allison Leigraf made her way on base with a single out to center. Abagail Cafolla then took her turn at bat and after watching a ball go by the sophomore sent one over the left field fence for her first home run of the season. With the duo of home runs from Ladson and Ab. Cafolla the Spartans took the lead 3-2.
 
After a couple of scoreless innings, the Spartans would further their lead in the top of the fifth when Natalie would hit a single through the left side to bring home Fischer. The Fire managed to make up a run in the bottom of the inning to bring the score 4-3. MBU was able to hold onto the lead until the bottom of the seventh when SEU managed to put up another run to tie the game, sending them into extra innings.
 
It was a battle between the two teams to secure that winning run. MBU was struggling to break through the Fire's defense but in turn SEU wasn't having an easy time either. Fischer was still going strong, managing to strike out three batters in the three extra innings. The bottom of the tenth is where the Spartans met their downfall. The lead batter made it on and was moved around to second with a sac bunt. The Spartans season would end when the next batter hit a sac fly out to right field giving the base runner their chance to make their way home, bringing the score 5-4 SEU.
 
With their second loss of the Opening Round, MBU was out of the tournament. The Spartans ended their historic season with an overall record of 33-14. They secured their first outright conference title as well as made their first ever appearance in the national tournament.