Winfield, Kan.—

Game Two:

Saint Mary turned a close game into a comfortable win with a five-run fifth inning in game two of the series, beating Southwestern 11-6. With the largest blow coming from Saul Vazquez-Alvarado, whose four-RBI home run in the top of the fifth pushed the Spires from a two-run lead to a 10-3 advantage.

The Spires improved their position after falling behind early. Southwestern scored first in the bottom of the first when Nittler singled to left to bring home Benz. USM answered in the second, scoring twice to move in front 2-1. One of those runs was unearned, and that became a theme as Southwestern committed seven errors that the Spires would capitalize on.

Southwestern briefly reclaimed momentum by taking a 3-2 lead after two innings, but Saint Mary swung the game in the fourth. Maverick Rockers doubled to right-center to drive in a run and ignite a three-run inning, with the Spires moving ahead 5-3. USM then broke it open in the fifth when we sent across five runs in the frame, highlighted by Vazquez-Alvarado's bases-loaded homer. Vazquez-Alvarado finished with five RBIs, one hit, two walks and a hit by pitch in a productive afternoon from the middle of the lineup.

Rockers also played a key role in the win, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a double and a walk. As a team, Saint Mary made the most of their opportunities, drawing nine walks and adding three hit batters. The Spires left eight on base, but their patience at the plate and pressure on Southwestern's defense consistently created scoring chances.

The Moundbuilders got a strong offensive game from Benz, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. He supplied the Moundbuilders' biggest late swing with a two-run homer to right-center in the bottom of the seventh.

The Spires added an insurance run in the top of the seventh before Southwestern's final response. USM finished with 11 runs on five hits and no errors, while SC scored six runs on nine hits and seven errors.

Game Three:

The final game of the conference face off saw the Spires erasing an early five-run deficit and taking over in the fourth inning yesterday, beating Southwestern 13-6 at Broadway Complex to complete the exciting series sweep for USM. The turning point came when Lucas Barta launched a four-run home run in the top of the fourth, flipping the score and sending the Spires in front for good.

Southwestern grabbed the game's first bout of momentum with a five-run second inning. Markovich highlighted that surge with a two-run homer, giving the Builders a 5-0 lead. After the rough second inning, the Spire pitching staff settled the game down and answered quickly. Tannen Buss delivered a two-run double to right, helping trim the deficit to 5-3 and setting up the bigger swing an inning later.

The Spires broke through in the fourth with five runs, capped by Barta's shot that pushed his team ahead 8-5. USM kept adding on after the Moundbuilders scratched across one run in the fifth. In the very next frame, Buss reached on a fielder's choice as two unearned runs scored on an error by the Moundbuilders third baseman, extending the lead to 10-6.

The Spires continued to pile it on in the ninth when Sergio Fierro hammered a three-run home run to further stretch the margin to 13-6.

Barta finished one of the best offensive outings of the afternoon, going 4 for 6 with three runs scored and five RBIs. Fierro drove in three runs and drew three walks in the sweep. Saul Vazquez-Alvarado added three hits and two runs, while Buss finished with two RBIs as Saint Mary totaled 13 runs on 13 hits, for an all-around productive outing.

The Spires limited Southwestern to one run over the final seven innings, and Gabriel Olguin earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed three hits and one run while helping keep the Builders from mounting another rally. Southwestern finished with six runs on eight hits and left seven runners on base.

USM will be back in action on Tuesday, April 7^th with a single game against the No. 20 OU Braves with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. at Dick Peters Sports Park in Ottawa, Kansas.