"In the opener, we didn't make any errors, which was nice and we were really pleased with (Jeremy) Sneed's pitching effort," coach John Sparks said. "We had guys in scoring position with less than two outs three times, but we couldn't score any of them and that's frustrating."

Sneed allowed six hits in six innings and walked four as the Spires scored a single run in the fourth and added two in the sixth.

Tabor had six hits, all singles.

In Game 2, the Bluejays needed a win to keep hopes alive for post-season play-and got what the doctor ordered.

Singles by Josh Craig, Kevin Peterson, Chance Miles, Eric LeCalsi and Casey Cooper staked the Bluejays to a 4-0 lead after one-half inning.

But the Spires answered with five runs on five hits in their half of the inning to take a 5-4 lead off starter Tyson Bauerle.

Saint Mary made it 6-4 in the third inning before Tabor mounted a comeback in the fourth inning. A one-out double from Cooper followed by singles from J.D. Poplin and Peterson put Tabor back on top 7-6.

After Saint Mary tied the score at 7 in the fourth, Tabor regained the lead 9-7 in the fifth when LiCalsi, Cooper and Travis Schafer singled with one out and LiCalsi and Cooper eventually scored.

But the Spires countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 9.

It wasn't until the seventh inning that Tabor broke that deadlock. With two outs, Jeremy Ball was hit by a pitch and Craig singled before Poplin got the biggest hit of the day-a two-run triple-for an 11-9 lead.

Josh Letourneau began the seventh and recorded one out to pick up the win before Phil Unruh came on with two runners aboard to earn the save.

The Bluejays slugged 16 hits; Cooper had four.

"It wasn't the prettiest game and we made some mistakes defensively, but we kept battling and persevered," Sparks said. "It was nice to see us come up big in a close game."

Kansas University-Tabor took the nationally ranked NCAA Division I Kansas Jayhawks Wednesday at Hoglund Park.

Thanks in large part to a slow start by Tabor, the Bluejays lost 14-4 but coach John Sparks said the outing should benefit his team.

"It turned into a really good experience for us," Sparks said. "We only got outhit 12-9, but we really played a solid game."

Starting pitcher Nick Villalovos lasted just one inning, allowing three hits and seven earned runs while walking four.

Phillip Unruh threw the next five innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs while striking out three. Josh Letourneau and Tyson Bauerle each pitched one inning.

Tabor trailed 7-0 after two innings and 9-0 after four innings but scored two runs in the fifth and single tallies in both the sixth and the seventh.

Tabor was led by J.D. Poplin, who went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs. Casey Hillman blasted a solo home run.

"We competed well and certainly didn't embarrass ourselves," Sparks said. "It's a great experience for our guys to see what that level of baseball is all about and to get to play in a nice park.

"If you compete like we did and you see good pitching, sometimes that raises your own level of play and it makes the rest of the KCAC not look quite so formidable."

The loss dropped Tabor to 15-24 for the season.

Sterling-The Bluejays split a pair of games with Sterling College Tuesday in Hillsboro. Tabor lost the opener 12-8 but thrashed the Warriors 14-0 in a five-inning blowout in game 2.

In the opener, starter Tyler McKim allowed 10 hits and eight earned runs in 61⁄3 innings.

"Tyler really threw pretty well," coach John Sparks said. "But we had some trouble in the bullpen in the seventh and it kind of got ugly for us."

With Sterling leading 6-4 after six innings, the Warriors crossed home plate six times in the top of the seventh on the strength of two singles, two hit batters, a double and a home run.

"We started out hitting the ball well in the first game and ended up hitting well," Sparks said. "But that lull we had in the middle innings really cost us."

Tabor's rally in the bottom of the inning was aided in part by three errors and a Josh Craig home run, but the effort fell short.

Game 2 went completely different for Tabor.

"I kind of gave it to them in between games," Sparks said. "I guess I must have pushed the right button."

Tabor led only 1-0 entering the bottom of the third inning, thanks to the pitching of Jeremy Sneed.

But Tabor exploded for five runs on five hits in the third inning and eight runs on eight hits in the fourth.

J.D. Poplin had a single, double and home run in the two rallies and Craig smashed a pair of home runs and a single in a 14-hit attack.

"In one sense it's gratifying to see we're finally getting back to where we were early in the season hitting the ball," Sparks said. "But in another sense, it's frustrating because it seems like we could have been there all year."

Sterling, meanwhile, was held to one hit by Sneed, who picked up the complete five-inning-game victory.

Coming-The Bluejays will battle for a post-season berth at Friends on Wednesday before concluding the regular season at home Saturday against Kansas Wesleyan beginning at 1 p.m.

The Bluejays are 6-14 in the KCAC and 16-25 overall.