Baker Softball Drops Season-Opening Games in KCK

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Coming off the program's third straight NAIA appearance, (RV) Baker softball fell in all three games of its season-opening tournament, hosted by Avila and Park, in Kansas City, Kan., this past weekend.

After rain threw Saturday's schedule out of whack, the Wildcats eventually kicked off their season against York, falling on a one-run heartbreaker, before dropping both games on Sunday to Columbia and Cottey.

York 4, BU 3
With their season opener finally getting underway six hours past the original start time, the Wildcats couldn't hang onto an early three-run lead, falling to the Panthers by one.

Junior Ashlee Jackman registered the Wildcats' first run of the season in her first plate appearance, coming home to score on a wild pitch in the top of the first. A double steal in the bottom of the second resulted in Sydney Kill sliding across for another manufactured run. Gracee Fryberger followed with an RBI single to spot BU a 3-0 lead.

The Panthers broke through with a run in the third and another one in the fourth, scoring in identical fashion to BU's first two runs, before their two-run fifth erased the Wildcats' initial lead. Fryberger opened the seventh with a leadoff double to put the tying run in scoring position, but advanced no further.

CC 3, BU 0
On Sunday, the Wildcats came out on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel against the Cougars, with a three-run fourth going down as the only scoring in the non-conference clash.

The Baker offense tried to find the success from Saturday's three-run start to the season, but were held to just three hits, while BU starter and reigning Heart Pitcher of the Year Kira Baker kept the Wildcats in it, with her only hiccup coming in the fourth.

The Cougars scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth to break up a scoreless tie, coming through with back-to-back two-out hits to give them a three-run cushion.

Cottey 3, BU 1
Baker found a bit more offensive rhythm in the second game on Sunday, but couldn't string together enough hits in a two-run setback to Cottey in the tournament finale.

After the Comets scored two in the opening frame, Ava Greiner snapped BU's scoreless streak with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Junior transfer Yarah Zuiver led off the inning with a bunt single and came around to score on Greiner's gapper to left center to make it 2-1.

Cottey pushed its lead back out to two with a run in the third. In her first start as a Wildcat, Camrynn Yardley struck out four and had only one of the runs go against her, while fellow newcomer pitcher Jordyn Beck pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief after drawing the start in Saturday's season opener.

For the second straight year, Baker will compete at the NAIA SB Invite down in Shawnee, Okla., facing off against No. 2 Oklahoma City (Noon) and Columbia (4 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 20, followed by games on Saturday against top-ranked Southern Oregon (12:30 p.m.) and No. 11 Midland (2:45 p.m.) before closing out the tournament on Sunday versus Avila at 10 a.m.

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