UPLAND, Ind. – The Missouri Baptist Spartans attempt to qualify for the NAIA Baseball World Series came up short with a loss to Indiana University Southeast on Thursday. The Grenadiers were victorious over the Spartans 14-10.
 
Similar to their effort against Taylor University (Ind.) on Wednesday night, MBU dug themselves a big hole early. Also similar to Wednesday, the Spartans offense was able to dig out of the deficit and take a lead, but this time the opponent had an answer.
 
Indiana Southeast put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning against Spartans' starter Greg Ryun. MBU cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second when Cesar Soto singled to score Cameron Roll. However, the Grenadiers got that run right back in the top of the third thanks to two walks and a single.
 
IUS extended the lead to 7-1 in the top of the fourth on the strength of five hits and an error. Skout Rallo was summoned from the bullpen to limit the damage as he was able to effectively work out a jam to leave the bases loaded.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Jakob Kouneski inched his squad a bit closer with an RBI single to center, scoring Blayne Yarger. It was a harbinger of things to come for Kouneski.
 
The explosive Spartans offense found their legs in the bottom of the sixth. Jayden Orozco walked followed by a DJ Schmidt single. After a pitching change, Cesar Soto singled to bring home Orozco with the third run of the game for MBU. With one out, Alex Adams hit a sacrifice fly to score Schmidt and make the score 7-4. Cole Robinson was plunked to load the bases with Soto advancing to third and Blayne Yarger to second. Kouneski delivered what many believed would be a telling blow as he launched an opposite field grand slam that shocked the Grenadiers and put the Spartans ahead 8-7 after six innings.
 
However, Rallo invited immediate trouble by walking the first two batters in the top of the seventh, then surrendered a back-breaking three run home run that immediately swung the momentum back in favor of IUS, 10-8.
 
Will Casel, who threw 62 pitches in three and two-thirds innings in a save situation yesterday against Indiana Tech, was called upon to put out the fire. It was evident the Spartans were reaching the end of their available arms in the bullpen, and IUS took advantage. Another three-run home run in the top of the eighth extended the Grenadiers lead to 13-8.
 
The Spartans scratched back for two runs in the eighth on a bases loaded walk and a groundout but couldn't get one last big hit to get any closer.
 
IUS added a run in the top of the ninth to make the final score 14-10, thus sending the Grenadiers to the NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
 
It's the second year in a row that the Spartans have fallen two wins short of the NAIA World Series, after losing to Indiana Wesleyan a year ago in the same situation.
 
The Spartans' season ends with a 41-12-1 record, with a regular season and postseason tournament American Midwest Conference title.