ST. LOUIS – No. 7 Missouri Baptist University baseball completed its second four-game Heart of America Athletic Conference series sweep of the week on Friday with two wins over Missouri Valley College.

After sweeping Benedictine College on Monday and Tuesday, the Spartans wrapped up the Thursday and Friday series against MVC with a 14-1 win and a 4-3 victory.

Game One Recap
The Spartans set the tone in the first inning, scoring twice behind RBI hits from Jayden Orozco and Angelo Franco to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Missouri Baptist added to the advantage in the third inning. Marcus Graham launched a solo home run to right center, and later in the frame, Orozco stole home on a failed pickoff attempt. Sam Paule followed with a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-0.

Missouri Valley scored its lone run in the fourth inning on an error, but the Spartans responded with another big inning, plating six runs to break the game open. Nick Beech doubled in a run, Franco added a sacrifice fly, and Kai Gray and Paule each delivered RBI singles. Carlos Hidalgo capped the rally with a two-run double, and Graham followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 12-1.

Missouri Baptist added its final run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Orozco to set the final at 14-1.

Orozco led the Spartans offensively, going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored. Paule drove in three runs on a 2-for-4 performance, while Hidalgo finished with two doubles and two RBI. Graham added two hits, including a home run, and two RBI.

On the mound, Teague Robertson (5-2) earned the win, allowing just one unearned run on two hits over five innings while striking out six. Taylon Laxson closed out the game with two scoreless innings of relief.

Winning Pitcher: Teague Robertson (5-2)
Losing Pitcher: Justin Case (1-3)
 
Batting Leaders:
Sam Paule: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R
Carlos Hidalgo: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Marcus Graham: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
 
Game Two Recap
Missouri Valley struck first in the opening inning when Masayoshi Hattori doubled home Bradley Johnson for a 1-0 lead. Missouri Baptist answered in the bottom half as Graham scored on a wild pitch to even the game.

The Vikings regained the lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Josh Hudson, making it 2-1.

The Spartans broke through in the fourth inning. Gray launched a two-run home run to give Missouri Baptist its first lead of the game, and Graham followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 4-2.

Missouri Valley cut into the deficit in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Aidan Bearden, but the Spartans were able to close it out from there.

Graham led Missouri Baptist offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Gray provided the biggest swing with his two-run homer, accounting for half of the Spartans' runs.

On the mound, Gus Lucas (4-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings while striking out three. Elliot Veisauyadra allowed one run in relief, and Zach Peters recorded the final three outs to earn his sixth save of the season.

Winning Pitcher: Gus Lucas (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Phillip Rushman (0-6)
Save: Zach Peters (6)
 
Batting Leaders:
Kai Gray; 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Marcus Graham: 3-for-4, 3B, 2B, RBI, R
 
Record:
No. 7 Missouri Baptist: 31-5, 19-1 Heart
Missouri Valley: 3-37, 3-17 Heart
 
What's Next?
The Spartans play their final home game of the season on Tuesday, April 14, with a 2 p.m. first pitch against Columbia College.
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