Wildcats Defeat (RV) Benedictine, 5-1, to Split Home Doubleheader

BALDWIN CITY - In its final home games of the regular season, Baker softball knocked off (RV) Benedictine 5-1 in the nightcap to earn a split with its conference rival on Tuesday night at Cavaness Field.

The Wildcats dropped a tough matchup to start the day, with the Ravens pulling out a 6-2 win, but bounced back in a big way in the second game. BU snapped a 1-1 tie with four runs over the final three innings to pick up a key victory in the Heart standings.

Leadoff hitter Rachel Pederson went 5-for-7 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases between the two games. In her 14th start of 2026, pitcher Camrynn Yardley earned her biggest win of the season, holding the Ravens to just one run in game two.

After three straight scoreless innings from Baker's game one starter Jordyn Beck and BC's ace Bailey Selvage, the Ravens finally broke through in the top of the fourth, plating the game's first run on an RBI single to right field.

Benedictine added a run in the fifth and back-to-back two-run frames in the sixth and seventh to make it a 6-0 hole for BU going into the bottom of the seventh.

Baker mounted a quality rally in the seventh with Miley Rowe and Lily Rowe connecting on consecutive one-out hits. An RBI groundout from Emilee Burke brought Mile Rowe home and then Lily Rowe came across on Gracie Gallagher's RBI knock before the Ravens squashed the comeback on the next at-bat.

In the nightcap, the Wildcats struck first right away to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Pederson's fourth hit of the evening resulted in a manufactured run as the senior outfielder slid home safely on a squeeze bunt from Ashlee Jackman.

With the Ravens tying things up in the second, Miley Rowe came through with the go-ahead swing with a solo home run - her second of the season - in the bottom of the fourth to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

BU came right back with a two-run bottom of the fifth, chasing the BC starter after Burke and Gracee Fryberger reached. Pederson lined an RBI single to center before Gallagher drove in her second run of the doubleheader.

Senior Taryn Hull led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and pinch-runner Ellie Ruffin eventually came across for the Wildcats' final run as the speedy freshman raced home on a passed ball.

Meanwhile, Yardley was unfazed in the circle, working around seven Ravens hits and a few jams all game long, only to finish off the victory with a clean 1-2-3 top of the seventh.
With just four games left in the regular season, the Wildcats are locked in a three-way tie for the final spot of the Heart Conference Tournament with MidAmerica Nazarene and Clarke, who are 12-12 in conference play as well.

Baker will close out the season with two crucial doubleheaders, starting first with a matchup at No. 17 Central Methodist on Friday, April 24, at 3 p.m. in Fayette, Mo. BU will turn around and take on the Pioneers on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m. in Olathe, Kan.

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