ST. LOUIS - Natalie Archer and Taylor Whitehead were honored during Missouri Baptist's Senior Day festivities in the middle of the Spartans two victories, and the No. 19 Spartans picked up their 40th win in the 8-0 game two win over Avila.

 

Game One Recap

The Spartans took advantage of their opportunities with runners on base in the first game, picking up clutch hits when needed. Missouri Baptist stranded just four runners on base throughout the contest.

 

The long ball also aided the Spartans as Brooklynn Fischer and Miranda Ladson each blasted a two-run homerun, both scoring Jacie Dees.

 

Fischer also was dominant throughout the contest allowing just four hits, surrendering just one run, unearned, and striking out eight Avila batters.

 

The Spartans scored three runs in the first inning as Fischer drove home Achs on a ground ball and Ladson two run shot gave them an early 3-0 lead. In the second, Dees drove in Achs and Grace Blakemore, who was pinch running for Bella Skibinski, and Fischer's two RBI homer made it 7-0. Ladson drove in another run in the fourth inning before Makayla Johnson launched a ball into the gap that cleared the bases for a three-run double. Avila scratched one run across in the top of the fifth, but the Spartans held on to win 11-1.

 

Fischer picked up her 20th win of the season and improved to 20-3.

 

Winning Pitcher: Brooklynn Fischer (20-3)

Losing Pitcher: A. Hassett (1-3)

 

Batting Leaders

Miranda Ladson: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R

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

Jacie Dees: 3-for-3, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI

 

Game Two Recap

It took the Spartans offense a little longer to get going in game two than it did in the first, but Taylor Whitehead went to work and held the Eagles scoreless through six innings of softball, giving up just three hits.

 

The Spartans finally got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Johnson led the inning off with a walk, stole second, and was driven home by a double from Camryn Kessler. With two away in the inning, Dees roped a double as well that brought Kessler home. Dees came around to score before the inning concluded on a single down the line from Ladson.

 

Allison Leigraf, Ladson, Kessler, and Whitehead rolled a beautiful 5-4-3 double play to end the Avila half of the fourth inning.

 

Missouri Baptist sparked a two-out rally in the fourth inning as three runs scored on four hits. Fischer's two-run double to opposite field highlighted the inning, putting the Spartans up 6-0.

 

The Spartans scratched across one more run in the fifth and sixth inning, leading to a 8-0 short game victory. Johnson scored in the fifth and Dees in the sixth.

 

Whitehead went six scoreless innings and struck out a batter per inning while allowing just three hits.

 

Johnson was all over the basepaths for the Spartans in game two as she stole three bases and scored three runs. 

 

The victory in the second game took the Spartans to the 40-win mark in the regular season for the first time in program history. 

 

MBU wrapped up the regular season on a 12 game win streak, and they will take on the AMC Conference Tournament next week at Williams Baptist University.

 

Winning Pitcher: Taylor Whitehead (16-2)

Losing Pitcher: M. Cotton (15-6)

 

Batting Leaders

Makayla Johnson: 1-for-2, 3 R, 3 SB, BB

Camryn Kessler: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Miranda Ladson: 2-for-4, 2 RBI

 

Records

Missouri Baptist: 40-6 (20-2 AMC)

Avila: 29-19 (19-7 KCAC)

 

Next Game

Missouri Baptist will hit the road to take on the AMC Conference Tournament hosted by Williams Baptist. The Spartans hold the No. 1 seed and will play Stephens on Tuesday, April 29, at noon.

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