Wildcats Roll to Season-Opening Win over Warriors, 39-7

BALDWIN CITY - Entering the program's third year of competition, No. 4 Baker women's flag football came away with a comfortable season-opening win over (RV) Midland, defeating the Warriors, 39-7, here Wednesday night at Liston Stadium.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Wildcats belted out a 25-point second quarter to go into halftime with a cozy lead before the Warriors broke up the shutout in the third quarter. BU tacked on two more scores in the fourth to open up the season with a big KCAC win.

Tara Llorente threw for nearly 150 yards (145), rushed for 66 yards and accounted for five of the six touchdowns for Baker with three scores through the air and two on the ground. Kayla Harrison scored the other BU touchdown after Llorente lateralled midway through the play late in the fourth quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Llorente was able to find Alana Romey, who made a nice grab, to secure the Wildcats' first touchdown of the game - and of 2026. Llorente added her first rushing touchdown of the game a few minutes later, scoring on a fake end-around to make it 12-0.

Baker struck again later in the second with Destiny Martinez being on the end of a short toss from Llorente. Llorente notched her third passing touchdown of the half after connecting with Sanija Waller for another easy pitch-and-catch to cap a 25-0 halftime lead.

Midland scored in the third quarter to spoil the shutout for a BU defense that forced four interceptions. Freshman Mariah Greenfield had two of the picks for Baker, playing in her first game as a Wildcat.

Llorente used another short burst of speed to tally her fifth and final touchdown of the game to start the fourth quarter and Harrison's shifty run down the sideline brought the final score to a close at 39-7.

Heading into its third season as a program, the Wildcats have won exactly 13 games and competed in the NAIA Flag Football Finals each of the last two years, reaching the semifinals of the NAIA tournament in 2025.

BU returns all eight of its All-KCAC honorees from last season's squad that went 7-2 in conference and advanced to the KCAC Semifinals for the second straight season.

Up next, Baker will travel to Arizona this weekend to compete in a three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup at OUAZ on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. (CT) in Surprise, Ariz. The Wildcats will then face Benedictine Mesa and Arizona Christian in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m. in Glendale, Ariz.

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