OZARK, Mo. – First-seeded Missouri Baptist University fell 8-6 to fifth-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene University in the second round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference baseball tournament on Friday evening.
The Spartans found themselves down 6-0 after three innings and fell short of a comeback victory. They will now play second-seeded Mount. Mercy University in an elimination game on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. Â
MidAmerica Nazarene Recap
MBU cut a three-run deficit to one in the eighth inning, but could not complete the comeback after MidAmerica Nazarene added an insurance run in the bottom half.
Carlos Hidalgo led the Spartans offensively, going 2-for-6 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning that trimmed the deficit to 6-4.
Matis Crouwel added an RBI single in the eighth, and Missouri Baptist also scored on a catcher's error in the seventh.
MNU built its lead behind Kaden Owens, who drove in five runs. Owens hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added a two-run double in a four-run third that pushed the lead to 6-1.
Missouri Baptist got on the board in the second on an RBI single from
Sam Paule before Hidalgo's home run highlighted the Spartans' push back into the game.
Jaymal Bonilla (7-5) earned the win in relief for MidAmerica Nazarene, while Giancarlo Cortez recorded his fourth save.
Tait Robertson (5-2) took the loss for Missouri Baptist, allowing six runs, four earned, in 2.2 innings.
Winning Pitcher: Jaymal Bonilla (7-5)
Losing Pitcher: Tait Robertson (5-2)
Save: Giancarlo Cortez (4)
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Batting Leaders:
Carlos Hidalgo: 2-for-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Record:
No. 6 Missouri Baptist: 39-9, 24-4 Heart
MidAmerica Nazarene: 26-25, 16-12 Heart
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What's Next?
The Spartans will play Mount Mercy University in an elimination on Saturday, May 2. The first pitch at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex is scheduled for 10 a.m.
For more information about the Heart Conference Baseball Tournament, click
here.
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