Spartans Outscore Vikings 22-3 to Open Four-Game Series
ST. LOUIS – No. 7 Missouri Baptist University baseball opened a home four-game series with Missouri Valley College on Thursday, April 9, with a pair of wins.

The Spartans outscored the Vikings 22-3 across two games to open the four-game set.

Game One Recap
Missouri Valley grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Bradley Johnson, scoring Colton Campbell.

The Spartans answered in a big way in the fourth, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs. Kevin Watkins started the rally with a two-run single through the left side, and Carlos Hidalgo followed with a three-run double to left center. Jayden Orozco capped the surge with a three-run home run to left center, and Max Shabestari added an RBI double to give Missouri Baptist a 9-1 advantage.

Missouri Baptist continued to build on the lead in the fifth inning. Hidalgo delivered an RBI single, and Marcus Graham added an RBI double down the right-field line to extend the margin to 11-1.

The Spartans tacked on three more runs in the sixth. A run scored on a wild pitch before Damian Goulart and Maddox Jasinski each drove in a run with singles to push the final to 14-1.

Hidalgo led the Spartans offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double, four RBI, and two runs scored. Orozco finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Watkins drove in two runs. Nick Beech went 3-for-3, and multiple players contributed to Missouri Baptist's 14-hit effort.

On the mound, Joseph Giunta (2-0) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits over five innings while striking out five. Keke Romero tossed two scoreless innings in relief to close out the game.

Winning Pitcher: Joeseph Giunta (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Rowan Robinson (0-5)
 
Batting Leaders:
Carlos Hidalgo: 2-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R
Jayden Orozco: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Kevin Watkins: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R
 
Game Two Recap
The Spartans struck first in the second inning when Angelo Franco launched a solo home run to give MBU a 1-0 lead.

Missouri Valley answered in the third, taking a 2-1 advantage on a two-run single up the middle by Masayoshi Hattori, with both runs coming unearned.

Missouri Baptist quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Jayden Orozco delivered a two-run single to score Carlos Hidalgo and Sam Paule, putting the Spartans back in front, 3-2.

The Spartans added to their lead in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a defensive error. Kai Gray reached and advanced to second on a miscue, allowing a run to score, and Paule followed with an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 5-2.

Missouri Baptist continued to build its cushion in the fifth. Max Shabestari tripled down the right-field line to drive in a run, and Franco added another RBI on a fielder's choice to make it 7-2.

Gray later scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning to cap the scoring at 8-2.

Franco led the Spartans at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Orozco added two RBI, while Shabestari recorded an RBI triple.

On the mound, Jackson Wells (2-0) earned the win, allowing two runs—just one earned—on three hits over four innings while striking out three. Quentin Graves and Jameson Strozier combined for three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

Winning Pitcher: Jackson Wells (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Carson Rustemeyer (0-2)
 
Batting Leaders:
Jayden Orozco: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Angelo Franco: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Max Shabestari: 1-for-3, 3B, RBI, R
 
Record:
No. 7 Missouri Baptist: 29-5, 17-1 Heart
Missouri Valley: 3-35, 3-15 Heart
 
What's Next?
The four-game series completes on Friday, April 10, with a noon start at Spartan Field.
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