Leavenworth, Kan.—USM broke through in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon on campus at the USM baseball field, riding a four-run fifth inning to a 5-2 victory over the No. 12-ranked OKWU Eagles in Leavenworth.

Fighting for their first KCAC win entering the day, the Spires built a tough 5-0 lead and then held off a late Eagles push to hand Oklahoma Wesleyan their first conference loss of the young season. The Spires bats were loaded this afternoon, finishing with eight hits and no errors, while limiting one of the league's top lineups to two runs on seven hits.

The Spires struck first in the second inning. Collin Pitzer came around to score on a single from Lucas Barta to center, giving Saint Mary a quick 1-0 edge that held until the decisive fifth. That early run allowed the Spires to play from in front while the pitching staff could better settle into the game against an Oklahoma Wesleyan lineup that would eventually threaten but never fully break through.

Saint Mary broke open a 1-0 game in the bottom of the fifth. After setting the table, the Spires capitalized when Sergio Fierro drilled a two-run double to center, driving in Tim Wood and Barta to push the lead to 3-0. Tannen Buss followed with an RBI single to left to bring home Fierro, and Bryce Turner capped the rally with a run-scoring double to right, completing a four-run frame that gave Saint Mary that extra 5-0 cushion.

The Eagles answered in the top of the sixth, cutting into the deficit with its best offensive inning of the day. Diaz started the scoring with a double, and Quiles followed with a two-run double to center to trim the margin to 5-2. OKWU continued to apply pressure throughout the game, drawing six walks and collecting seven hits, but stranded nine runners on base and could not come up with another key hit against the confident USM pitching staff.

Hayden Roop anchored the effort on the mound, working 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. The Spires' staff combined for nine innings of seven-hit ball, issuing six walks but matching Oklahoma Wesleyan's seven strikeouts to strand nine Eagles runners.

Offensively, Fierro had a great day at the ballpark and led Saint Mary with a 3-for-4 performance that included a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Turner added two hits, including a run-scoring double, and finished with two RBIs. Barta reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, helping the Spires turn quality plate appearances into their most significant conference result.

The victory marks game one of the three game series against the Eagles, with the remaining double header set for tomorrow, Saturday, February 21^st with first pitch at noon.