ST. LOUIS - The Spartans welcomed the Cougars to MBU with a 9-0 victory for their seventh straight win, but the Cougars fought back in game two and pinned a 6-5 loss on the Spartans for their first AMC loss of the season.

Game One Recap

Missouri Baptist utilized a pair of big innings to their advantage in the first of two games as they scored three runs in the first inning and five in the third. Power hitting was a big positive for the Spartans throughout the contest as they scored runs on doubles, triples, and homeruns.

Alexi Sanchez and Allison Leigraf drove in a trio of runs with a pair of back-to-back doubles in the first inning. Jacie Dees led off the third inning with a double and Brooklynn Fischer followed it up with a two-run shot over the fence in center field. Camryn Kessler tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth with a triple before Miranda Ladson drove her home, making it 8-0. Ladson increased the Spartans' lead to nine runs in the fourth with a two out single that scored Jenna Achs after she tripled.

Fischer went to work in the circle for the Spartans as she threw a complete game shutout while letting the defense work behind her with just four strikeouts. Missouri Baptist's defense played sound defense behind Fischer making no errors throughout the five innings.

Six different Spartans picked up an extra-base hit in the 9-0 win over their AMC rival.

Winning Pitcher: Brooklynn Fischer (12-2)

Losing Pitcher: M. Graver (5-4)

Batting Leaders

Allison Leigraf: 2-for-3, RBI, R, 2B

Brooklynn Fischer: 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Alexi Sanchez: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B

Game Two Recap

The Spartans fell behind quickly as the Cougars picked up a three-run homer in the top of the first, but MBU was able to respond with a run of their own in the first as Fischer brought Makayla Johnson home with a single. Achs brought Fischer around to score in the third inning with a sacrifice-fly, bringing the Spartans within just one of the Cougars.

Columbia was able to keep tacking on runs slowly throughout the contest, keeping the Spartans at arms' length, and the Spartans were unable to pick up a big hit in important moments.

Down 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Sanchez drove home a run with two runners on base, but the Spartans stranded a pair of runners on the basepaths. 

Missouri Baptist loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with nobody out, but were only able to score one run and failed to complete a comeback against the Cougars.

Throughout the game the Spartans stranded 12 runners on the basepaths and came up one run short in the 6-5 loss.

Despite giving up three runs in the first inning, Taylor Whitehead settled in in the circle for MBU until Columbia picked up a pair of runs off her in the fifth and sixth innings.

Winning Pitcher: K. Jensen (4-1)

Losing Pitcher: Taylor Whitehead (9-2)

Save: M. Graver (1)

Batting Leaders

Alexi Sanchez: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, SB

Miranda Ladson: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI

Brooklynn Fischer: 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB

Records

Missouri Baptist: 25-5 (7-1 AMC)

Columbia: 14-8 (5-1 AMC)

Next Game

The Spartans return to the diamond next Friday, Apr. 4 when they host a doubleheader against Mission University.