Atchison, Kan.— The Spires rebuilt their lead in the sixth inning and added a key insurance run in the ninth this afternoon, beating the Benedictine College Ravens 10-8 in a single non-con at Olsen Stadium. After watching a four-run Ravens fifth erase an early advantage, the Spires responded immediately and never gave the lead back.

Benedictine struck first in the bottom of the first when Martin tripled to left-center and later scored on Hintz's RBI single. USM answered in the second with two runs, getting an RBI single from Ben Brandt and another run on Tim Wood's fielder's choice. The Spires added two more in the third, with Tannen Buss delivering a two-run single to right for a 4-1 edge, then extended the margin with single runs in the fourth and fifth to go up 6-2.

The game turned in the bottom of the fifth, when Benedictine sent four runs across to pull even at 6-6. Sparks highlighted the rally with a ground-rule double, and Ornelas added an RBI single as the Ravens forced the Spires to reset after controlling much of the middle innings. Instead, USM would respond with an answer in the top of the sixth. Buss drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Sean Goings followed with another sacrifice fly, and just like that the Spires were back in front 8-6.

That quick response was backed by a productive offensive day throughout the lineup. USM finished with 10 runs on 15 hits, drew seven walks, stole five bases and kept pressure on Benedictine with timely situational hitting. Buss led the way with four hits and three RBIs, including the two-run single in the third and the sacrifice fly in the sixth. Ian Maldonado added three hits, scored three runs and drove in the Spires' final run with an RBI single in the ninth that made it 10-8.

Benedictine kept pushing late. The Ravens scored once in the seventh and once in the eighth, trimming the deficit to 9-8 when Tillman grounded out and Stone came home. Martin collected four hits and scored twice for Benedictine, while Sparks finished with four RBIs. But Saint Mary was able to withstand the late pressure one last time. Maldonado's run-scoring single in the top of the ninth provided breathing room before the Spires closed out the final frame.

Cooper Stein earned the win for USM after working five innings. He allowed seven hits and six runs, struck out four and threw 90 pitches while navigating the Ravens' biggest surge in the fifth. Jacob Rehkow secured the save as Saint Mary completed the road victory. The Spires left 11 men on base, but their 15-hit attack and immediate answer after Benedictine's comeback proved decisive in a 10-8 finish.

Coming up, USM will travel to York Nebraska to face off against the YU Panthers in what will be their final series of the 2026 season. Game one is set for Friday, April 24^th at 5:00 p.m. with day two slated for noon at Levitt Stadium.