SHAWNEE, Okla. – No. 16 Missouri Baptist University finished the NAIA Softball Invitational at 2-1 over the final three games in Shawnee, Okla.
They defeated Ottawa University (Kan.) on Saturday afternoon, surrendered a walk-off home run on Saturday night against No. 9 University of Science & Arts (Okla.), and put up 22 runs in a win over No. 21 Hope International University.
Ottawa Recap
MBU broke through in the second inning when
Alohilani Bursey launched a two-run home run to center field, scoring
Miranda Ladson and giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
The Spartans blew the game open in the third.
Alexi Sanchez singled and later scored on
Camryn Kessler's RBI base hit. Ladson followed with a two-run triple to right center, and Bursey added another RBI groundout to cap a four-run frame and extend the advantage to 6-0.
Makayla Johnson tripled and scored on a groundout by
Jacie Dees in the fourth to make it 7-0.
After Ottawa plated a run in the fifth, Kessler answered with a solo home run to left center. Later in the inning,
Bella Skibinski pinch hit and delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 9-1 and secure the run-rule victory.
Kaylie Brake earned the win, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out four over five innings.
Winning Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (5-2)
Losing Pitcher: A. Harrison (1-1)
Batting Leaders
Alohilani Bursey: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
Camryn Kessler: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
No. 9 USAO Recap
The Spartans struck first in the opening inning when
Brooklynn Fischer reached on an error that allowed Johnson to score for a 1-0 lead.
After Science and Arts answered with a solo home run, Bursey put the Spartans back in front in the second with a solo shot to left field.
The Drovers tied the game again in the second and eventually took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on an RBI single.
MBU responded in the fifth. Following an error and a pinch runner entering the game, Fischer tripled to right field to tie the score. Sanchez followed with an RBI single to give the Spartans a 4-3 advantage.
The lead held until the seventh inning when Science and Arts connected on a two-run home run to end the game in walk-off fashion.
Ladson started in the circle and tallied three punchouts with two earned runs before Fischer went four innings with a pair of strikeouts before taking the loss in relief.
Winning Pitcher: K. Beckwith (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Brooklynn Fischer (1-2)
Batting Leaders
Brooklynn Fischer: 1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R
Alohilani Bursey: 1-for-3 HR, RBI
No. 21 Hope International Recap
The MBU offense sent 17 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored 12 runs on eight hits, capitalizing on defensive miscues to seize complete control.
Dees opened the scoring with an RBI triple to left center. Bursey followed with an RBI single, and Ladson delivered a two-run single that was aided by an error.
Kelsie Holtmeyer added an RBI single, and Johnson capped the surge with a two-run double. The Spartans also drew three bases-loaded walks in the frame to extend the lead to 12-0.
Hope International scratched across an unearned run in the bottom half, but the Spartans kept applying pressure.
In the second inning, Fischer doubled home a run, and Sanchez added an RBI single. Missouri Baptist later benefited from another defensive miscue to push the advantage to 16-1.
Sanchez added an RBI groundout in the third before the Spartans broke it open again in the fourth.
Kendall Zimmer drove in a run with a single,
Josephine Wozniak added an RBI on a fielder's choice, and Sanchez delivered a two-run single.
Aliviah Fischer capped the scoring with an RBI single to make it 22-2.
Hope International added a run in the fifth, but the outcome was well in hand.
Brake (6-2) earned the win, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out four over five innings.
Missouri Baptist scored in four of five innings and finished with 19 RBI in the run-rule victory.
Winning Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (6-2)
Losing Pitcher: V. Little (5-3)
Batting Leaders
Alexi Sanchez: 4-for-5, 5 RBI, 3 R
Miranda Ladson: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Makayla Johnson: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, HBP
Records:
No. 16 Missouri Baptist: 8-5
Ottawa: 9-6
No. 9 USAO: 8-2
No. 21 Hope International: 12-7
What's Next?
The Spartans open the Space Coast Games on Monday, March 2, against the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The first pitch in Melbourne, Fla., is set for 1:30 p.m. (CST).
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