WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Missouri Baptist University baseball fell 8-6 in 10 innings to the University of the Cumberlands on Wednesday afternoon, but forced a rematch with them after a 7-2 win over MidAmerica Nazarene University in the elimination game.
After a game-tying three-run home run from
James Jett, the Patriots scored twice in the top of the 10th to advance to the finals.
Carlos Hidalgo fueled the bounce-back win with a grand slam in a 7-2 win over the Pioneers in the night game.
MBU will need two wins over The Cumberlands on Thursday, May 15, to advance to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT) and will be followed by a 2:30 p.m. (CT) contest if the Spartans win. For more information about the NAIA Opening Round, click
here.
Cumberlands Recap
Charlie Muñiz hit a solo home run in the first inning to put the Patriots up 1-0 until
Lucas Lefebvre singled in the tying run in the second.
The Spartans took the lead in the third inning on an RBI double from
Jakob Kouneski.
Kevin Watkins courtesy ran for the catcher, and scored on an RBI knock from
Jayden Orozco to make it 3-1.
UC tied the game on a solo home run and an RBI single in the fourth and took the lead after three runs and four hits in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Tyson Ludwig singled and
Dominic Palma reached base to set the stage for a dramatic game-tying three-run home run that
James Jett kept just fair down the left field line.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the 10th when Carl Petrey broke the tie with a two-run home run to left-center. Patriots reliever Cooper Morgan ended his 1.1 scoreless innings and picked up the win by working out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half of the tenth.
Gus Lucas got the start and gave up five hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Tony Caldwell followed him out of the bullpen,
Greg Ryun threw 1.1 scoreless innings, and
Zach Peters rolled along through his three innings until he surrendered the two-run shot to Petrey.
Winning Pitcher: C. Morgan (5-1)
Losing Pitcher: Zach Peters (2-1)
Batting Leaders
James Jett: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Jakob Kouneski: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
Jayden Orozco: 2-for-4, RBI, R
MidAmerica Nazarene Recap
Cole Robinson slugged his first home run of the NAIA Tournament in the top of the second to give his team an early lead against the Pioneers.
In the top of the third, Jett doubled home a run to make it 2-0, Orozco worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0, and
Carlos Hidalgo blasted a grand slam to make it 7-0.
MidAmerica quieted the Spartans' bats for the remainder of the game but could only muster runs in the sixth and seventh innings before eventually getting eliminated from the NAIA Tournament with a 7-2 final.
Sam Myers gave the Spartans 2.2 hitless innings with one strikeout before getting struck in the head by a line drive and walking off the field under his own power.
Austin Szverra relieved him out of the bullpen with 6.1 innings, 105 pitches, three hits, two earned runs, and eight strikeouts to improve his 2025 record to a perfect 3-0.
Winning Pitcher: Austin Szverra (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: O. Chaffin (5-2)
Batting Leaders
Carlos Hidalgo: 2-for-4, Grand Slam, 2B, 4 RBI, R
Cole Robinson: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
James Jett: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, R
Records:
No. 16 Missouri Baptist: 42-10
No. 8 Cumberlands (Ky.): 47-10
(RV) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.): 34-18
Follow Us:
X/Twitter: @MBU_baseball
Instagram: @mbu_baseball
Â
