ST. LOUIS – No. 10 Missouri Baptist University softball strengthened its lead on the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a 4-0 weekend, capped by a pair of Senior Day victories on Saturday over No. 25 Benedictine College.
 
FRIDAY RECAP
Game 1: Missouri Baptist 3, Park 2

The Spartans walked off Park in the opener, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

MBU broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Jacie Dees delivered an RBI single up the middle. Dees later stole second, and Alohilani Bursey came home on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

Park rallied in the seventh inning to tie the game. Gracie Ramsey drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and another run scored on an error to even the score at 2-2.

In the bottom half, Missouri Baptist answered immediately. Kaylie Brake walked, Makayla Johnson singled, and Brooklynn Fischer hit the walk-off single to secure a 3-2 win.

Fischer led the Spartans at the plate, going 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI, while Makayla Johnson added three hits.

In the circle, Fischer tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs—one earned—on four hits. Brake (15-3) earned the win in relief, recording the final two outs.

Winning Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (15-3)
Losing Pitcher: Hanna Vaught (8-6)
 
Batting Leaders
Brooklynn Fischer: 2-for-4, Walk-Off Single, RBI
Makayla Johnson: 3-for-4
Jacie Dees: 1-for-3, RBI, SB
 
Game 2: Missouri Baptist 11, Park 0 (5 innings)
The MBU offense erupted early in the second game, scoring five runs in the first inning and never looking back in a run-rule victory.

Allison Leigraf got the scoring started with an RBI single, followed by an RBI double from Bursey. Dees added a two-run single, and Camryn Kessler capped the inning with an RBI single as the Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead.

MBU added two more runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI double from Alexi Sanchez, before breaking the game open in the third with four additional runs. Sanchez and Leigraf each drove in runs during the inning as the lead grew to 11-0.

The Spartans totaled 12 hits in the win, with Sanchez going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Leigraf added two hits and two RBI, while Dees drove in two runs.

Kaylie Brake (16-3) was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing four hits and striking out two over five innings.

Winning Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (16-3)
Losing Pitcher: Myel White (3-6)
 
Batting Leaders
Alexi Sanchez: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Allison Leigraf: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R
Jacie Dees: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R
 
SATURDAY RECAP
Game 1: Missouri Baptist 5, Benedictine (Kan.) 3
Benedictine struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on an error to plate an unearned run.
 
The Spartans answered in the bottom half when Dees doubled to left field to drive in Leigraf to tie the game at 1-1.

The Ravens responded in the fourth, as Reagan Enright launched a two-run home run to left field on a 2-0 count to reclaim a 3-1 lead.

MBU answered again in the fifth. Dees tied the game with a solo home run, and Miranda Ladson followed with a three-run shot to center field, giving the Spartans a 5-3 advantage they would not relinquish.

Dees led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and two RBI, while Ladson drove in three runs with her homer.

In the circle, Fischer (10-3) earned the win, allowing three runs—two earned—over five innings while striking out four. Brake recorded the final six outs to earn her third save.

Winning Pitcher: Brooklynn Fischer (10-3)
Losing Pitcher: Bailey Selvage (11-6)
Save: Kaylie Brake (3)
 
Batting Leaders
Jacie Dees: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI
Miranda Ladson: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
 
Game 2: Missouri Baptist 3, Benedictine (Kan.) 1
The Spartans completed the sweep behind a strong pitching performance from Brake in game two.

Missouri Baptist took an early lead in the first inning when Johnson led off with a home run to right field. The Spartans added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Dees to make it 2-0.

Benedictine got on the board in the third with a sacrifice fly from Amanda Waymire, but Missouri Baptist answered in the bottom half as Ladson delivered an RBI single to restore a two-run cushion at 3-1.

Brake (17-3) handled the rest, tossing a complete game while allowing one run on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Johnson finished with a home run and scored twice, while Ladson recorded two hits and an RBI to lead the Spartans offensively.

Winning Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (17-3)
Losing Pitcher: Lily SinghDhillon (3-5)
 
Batting Leaders
Makayla Johnson: 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 2 R
Miranda Ladson: 2-for-3, RBI
 
Records:
No. 10 Missouri Baptist: 27-7, 14-2 Heart
Park: 18-17, 7-10 Heart
No. 25 Benedictine: 26-12, 13-5 Heart
 
What's Next?
The Spartans travel to Peru State College on Monday, April 12, for a 1 p.m. start against the Bobcats in Peru, Neb.
 
Follow Us:
X/Twitter: @MBU_softball
Instagram: @mbu_sb
  Read Full Article