Spires baseball took on #22 Friends University last week in a four game conference series. The Spires went 1-3 in the series, taking game three by the score of 3-2.

In the first game of the series, the Spires took a one run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Spires got their run in the fifth inning after Patrick Swain led off the inning with a single. Cody Devin pinch ran for Swain and stole second base. Grant Arnold would eventually single home Devin to take the lead. In the seventh, the Spires would lose the lead and the game on a walk off sacrifice fly by the score of 2-1. Cade Brummer pitched well, taking the loss as he threw 6.2 innings and gave up only six hits and one earned run. He struck out three and walked one.

In game two the Spires were unable to pick up any runs and fell 2-0. Josh Decker and Nic Amerio pitched three innings each, giving up a run each. Amerio's run was unearned. Decker took the loss.

The home doubleheader started off on a good note for the Spires with their 3-2 victory. Dennis Martine pitched six innings and gave up only two runs as he struck out two and walked one. Keeton Krause earned the save for the Spires, as he struck out a Friends batter with the bases loaded to end the game. Brett Bearden, Davon Poole, Kavin Patel, Swain and Joey Stauss each had hits. Stauss's double gave the Spires the lead in the sixth inning. He finished with two RBI's.

Game two brought more offensive headaches for the Spires, as they were shut out for a second time in the series. Arnold took the loss, as he pitched five innings and gave up three runs.

This week brings another conference series with Ottawa University, with a home doubleheader scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. and a road doubleheader at Ottawa on Saturday at 1 p.m.