Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

O'FALLON, Mo. – After the weather pushed the Lions baseball team (9-4, 2-0 AMC) back to a neutral-site field rather than playing on Carnes Field, the No. 2 ranked Lions were able to earn their first two wins in American Midwest Conference play with 6-5 and 3-2 wins over Missouri Baptist (6-4, 0-2 AMC) on Thursday afternoon.

Game one of the three-game series was more of a back-and-forth contest, with the teams sort of trading runs through the first three innings.

The Spartans held a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth inning, and after Austin Steel was able to keep the visiting team off the board, the Lions were able to take a 5-3 lead off of a Bryce Lester three-run homerun.

In the ensuing half inning, Missouri Baptist was able to tie the game at five runs each on a two-run homer.

Transfer centerfielder Dom Pisano led off the bottom of the sixth inning, and he was able to break the tie with a go-ahead solo shot to put the Lions back on top. Landon Sewell, who cam on in relief to start the sixth inning, blanked the Spartans and earned the win.

Game two of the double-header and series was a nine-inning contest in which the Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind a two-run double from James Dodd in the bottom of the second inning, and a run off of a defensive error in the bottom of the fourth that scored Zach Sanders.

Freshman Alex Huey got the start on the mound and went all nine innings, earning the win.

He kept the Spartans off the board for nearly six innings, but gave up a one-out, two-run homerun, which got Missouri Baptist back to within one run.

Despite the slight pressure the visitors put on the young starter, he was able to stay in the game and finish it off on exactly 100 pitches.

Freed-Hardeman and Missouri Baptist will conclude the opening series of AMC play on Friday with a single game beginning at noon.