Wildcats Clinch Heart Tournament Spot with Weekend Split at CMU, MNU

FAYETTE, Mo./OLATHE, Kan. - In its final outings of the regular season, Baker softball secured its postseason berth over the weekend, splitting a pair of road conference series to lock up the final spot for the 2026 Heart Softball Tournament.

The Wildcats went 2-2 across matchups at No. 17 Central Methodist on Friday and MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday, doing just enough down the stretch to earn their fourth straight trip to the conference tournament.

CMU 5, BU 2
Central Methodist pulled away with a five-run fifth inning to hand Baker a 5-2 setback in the weekend opener on Friday in Fayette, Mo.

The Wildcats struck first with a run in the opening frame, as Sydney Kill delivered an RBI single to put BU in front early. Baker added to its lead in the third when Rachel Pederson came through with an RBI single, extending the advantage to 2-0 through the first three innings.

Baker controlled the game early behind a strong start from Jordyn Beck, who kept the Eagles off the board through the first four innings. CMU flipped the momentum in the fifth, stringing together seven hits in the frame to plate all five of its runs and take the lead for good.

Pederson led the Wildcats offensively with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, accounting for one of Baker's two RBIs in the contest.

BU 2, CMU 0
Baker responded in the nightcap with a 2-0 shutout victory, backed by timely offense and a standout performance in the circle from Camrynn Yardley.

The Wildcats broke through in the fourth inning, capitalizing on an Ashlee Jackman leadoff double. Pederson followed with an RBI groundout to bring home the game's first run, giving BU a 1-0 edge.

BU added an insurance run in the seventh, taking advantage of an Eagles error. After Taryn Hull drew a leadoff walk, pinch runner Yarah Zuiver came around to score on the miscue, extending the lead to 2-0.

Yardley handled the rest, turning in one of her strongest outings of the season with a complete-game shutout. She limited the 17th-ranked Eagles to just four hits while striking out two, securing her third shutout of the year.

MNU 7, BU 2
On Saturday in Olathe, Kan., Baker couldn't overcome a pair of big innings as MidAmerica Nazarene pulled out a 7-2 decision in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Pioneers broke the game open with three runs in the third before adding four more in the sixth, while limiting the Wildcats to four hits.

Jackman provided the lone spark for BU, blasting a two-run homer in the sixth inning for her team-leading seventh of the season.

BU 2, MNU 1
The Wildcats closed out the weekend with a 2-1 victory over MNU, using a pair of late runs to secure the series split.

The Pioneers struck first with a run in the second, but the Wildcats chipped away and broke through in the fifth as Kill delivered an RBI single to even the score. Baker took the lead an inning later when Ava Greiner came through with an RBI single, putting BU in front for good.

Yardley came through with another clutch outing in the circle, tossing her second complete game of the weekend while allowing just one run on five hits with three strikeouts.

Baker edged the Pioneers 6-5 at the plate, with Kill leading the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance.

Punctuated by the big victory in the finale, the Wildcats posted a 26-21 overall record during the regular season and a 14-14 record in conference play, marking at least 24 wins for the fifth consecutive season.

As the No. 8 seed, Baker will square off against top-seed Missouri Baptist, who clinched the conference regular-season title, in the first round of the 2026 Heart Softball Championship on Thursday, April 30, at 9:30 a.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

#BakerBuildsChampions