Missouri Baptist game one boxscore in PDF
Missouri Baptist game two boxscore in PDF
The softball doubleheader Wednesday between Maryville and Missouri Baptist featured late rallies but both times, the Spartans came up with victories. Missouri Baptist took game one 5-2 and posted a 7-6 decision in nine innings in the finale on a windy day at the Maryville Softball Field.
In the first game, the Saints pushed across a run in the bottom of the first. Shelby Steinkamp doubled, took third on an error and scored on another MBU miscue. Maryville tacked on its second run in the fifth with Steinkamp playing a major role. She singled up the middle and moved into scoring position on a ground out. Steinkamp swiped third and scored when the attempted throw at third base sailed high for a 2-0 Saints’ lead.
Maryville was poised for the win until the Spartans pieced together a walk and four hits, capped by Katie Payne’s grand slam to rally for the 5-2 lead in the sixth. Alex Carr doubled in the bottom of the sixth but was stranded there. In their final at bat, Hayley Bartow and Kelsey Kapitzke had back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position. However, the Saints were unable to bring home the tying run.
In the second game, the Spartans built a 4-0 lead after four innings before the Saints made a spirited charge. Karlie Twisselman and Sarah Graham moved into scoring position before Kelsey Barbeau ripped a double that landed just inside the left field line to draw Maryville to 4-2. Meredith Brown put down a bunt single to score Barbeau with the third run of the game for the Saints. The game remained 4-3 until the Saints capped their rally by tying the game in the bottom of the seventh. Steinkamp singled and advanced to second on a fielding error. Twisselman drilled a single to left as Steinkamp tied the game to force extra innings.
Using a tiebreaker format, Missouri Baptist pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth. The Saints again had the answer in the bottom of the frame as Kapitzke launched a homer to deep left field to force a 6-6 tie. The Spartans retook the lead by scoring a run, setting the stage for the Saints to try and extend the game. However, with a runner at third, Maryville hit into a game-ending double play as the Spartans escaped with the 7-6 win.
Maryville drops to 5-9 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 14-6. The Saints return to Great Lakes Valley Conference play with doubleheaders this Saturday and Sunday.
