Constant MBU offense and 8 UHSP errors sinks Eutectics

CREVE COEUR, MO – UHSP and Missouri Baptist opened a three-game set on Wednesday at Spartan Baseball Field. A day after a rain-shortened loss to Missouri Valley, the Eutectics jumped back into American Midwest Conference play for a regular season ending series against the Spartans. It was the model of consistency for Missouri Baptist as they scored in all but two of the frames en route to a 12-4 win.

After a scoreless first, MBU scored a pair in the second and third to lead 4-0, the first run in the third coming off a solo homerun from Blayne Yarger. The Eutectics had a golden opportunity to not only get back in the game but take the lead in the home half of the third. Jordan Gonzalez snuck a ball just over the left field wall for a leadoff homerun. After a strikeout and a walk, Jovonnie Bautista single to put two men on with one out. Malcolm Merriweather reached on an error to bring in a run to make it 4-2 and Nolan Harding singled to load them up. Ruben Ogando was hit by a pitch to make it a one-run game with Caden Buxton coming to the plate with one out. MBU starter Teague Robertson induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to get out of the frame still with a 4-3 lead in favor of the Spartans.

The Missouri Baptist offense continued to pepper UHSP pitching from then on but could never really get the big hit to break the game wide open. It was two more in the fourth and two more in the fifth, all off of Eutectic starter Brayden Steves who was lifted in that fifth inning. Steves ended up going four-and-two-thirds allowing eight runs, seven earned on nine hits with four walks. Cris Resendez came on for Steves and went two-and-a-third allowing four more runs including a Blane Besse homerun in the seventh. The Eutectics managed to scratch a run in the ninth when they loaded the bases with one out. Nolan Harding drove home Holden Campbell with a groundout and Hector Perez flew out to end the game.

The UHSP offense banged out a dozen hits, but like MBU could never come up with the timely hit to result in game-changing inning. But it was an eight-error performance by the UHSP defense that fueled the Spartans' effort as they collected 13 hits themselves. Robertson earned the win going five innings of three run ball, striking out six, walking two while allowing eight hits. Greg Ryun went the rest of the way to earn a four-inning save. Steves took the loss for UHSP.  Alex Adams went 3-for-5 for MBU while Jakob Kouneski was aboard four times and drove in three. Holden Campbell, Jovonnie Bautista and Nolan Harding all had a pair of hits for the Eutectics.

The two clubs will finish out the regular season with a doubleheader on Thursday. UHSP (11-27, 4-15 AMC) is vying for the final spot in the AMC Postseason Tournament while Missouri Baptist (34-9, 17-2 AMC) entered the day tied for the outright conference lead with Columbia. The Cougars open a three-game AMC series with William Woods on Wednesday night.