Baker Softball Drops Conference-Opening Series to No. 15 Missouri Baptist

BALDWIN CITY - Baker softball opened up its first games of the Heart of America season by falling to No. 15 Missouri Baptist in a home doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Cavaness Field.

The Wildcats let a one-run lead slip late in game one as the Spartans put together a two-run sixth to steal the opener, 2-1. MBU's lineup came alive in the second game, rolling out an 11-1 win to sweep the conference-opening doubleheader.

BU ace Kira Baker went toe-to-toe with MBU's game one starter Brooklyn Fischer as the two pitchers combined to tally 20 strikeouts and allowed the game's only runs in two frames. Baker piled up 13 strikeouts for her second straight double-digit outing after collecting a season-high 14 strikeouts against Saint Mary last weekend.

A two-out rally in the bottom of the first looked to give the Wildcats offense life right off the bat. Sydney Kill laced a double to right-center before being knocked in by Ashlee Jackman's RBI single to give BU a 1-0 lead.

The 1-0 score would sit that way for the next five innings, though as Baker and Fischer dueled each other in the circle. Baker worked around a one-out single in the third, while the Wildcats put a leadoff runner on in both the second and third innings, but couldn't tack on another run.

The Spartans finally broke through in the top of the sixth, getting their first two hitters aboard by bunting before Baker nearly neutralized the threat with back-to-back strikeouts. MBU connected on a two-out double from its pitcher Fischer, who practically single-handedly won the game with the two game-winning RBI to go along with her one-run pitching performance.

The Wildcats couldn't match the late rally from MBU and went down in order in the sixth and seventh to fall for the first time at home this season.

In game two, BU was still unable to get its offense going despite a run in the first inning for the second straight game. The Spartans' bats, meanwhile, got hot with seven extra-base hits, including four homers, to seal the double-digit win in five innings.

A leadoff single from Gracie Gallagher helped produce BU's run in the bottom of the first as the senior transfer immediately stole second to give the Wildcats a runner in scoring position just one batter into the game.

Rachel Pederson followed with a single up the middle to put runners at the corners before the two teamed up on a double steal that saw Gallagher slide in safely at home to make it a 1-0 lead for BU.

The Spartans responded by smacking three home runs in a five-run top of the second and tacked on three more in the third to take a comfortable 8-1 lead.

Baker looked to have opportunities in the third and fourth with Pederson notching her second hit of the game on a two-out single in the third and Sydney Kill following with a walk to give the Wildcats a pair of baserunners.

Miley Rowe and Emilee Burke led off the fourth with back-to-back singles before a hard-hit liner from Taryn Hull went right back to the glove of the MBU pitcher and doubled up the runner to squash BU's hopes.

With the game originally scheduled for Sunday, March 15, Baker postponed its second series of the weekend due to projected inclement weather and will now face William Woods on March 31 at 1 p.m. in Baldwin City.

The Wildcats' next game will now be a road doubleheader at Missouri Valley on Saturday, March 21, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. in Marshall, Mo.

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