Wildcats Finish Non-Conference Slate with 3-1 Outing in Split Weekend

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Baker softball won three out of four games to close out the non-conference portion of its schedule after splitting the weekend at the Friends Invite on Saturday and a road doubleheader at Saint Mary on Sunday.

BU 11, CUNE 3 (5 inn.)
The Wildcats erased a one-run deficit in the fourth inning by tallying nine straight runs in an 11-3 drubbing of Concordia in the first game on Saturday.

It was an all-around effort from the BU offense, who scored a weekend-best 11 runs, with seven different Wildcats driving in runs. Gracie Gallagher (3), Sydney Kill (3), Taryn Hull (2) and Ashlee Jackman (2) each had multiple hits with Jackman scoring the first and last runs of the game.

After the Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth, following BU's two-run third, Baker exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth before tacking on three more runs in the fifth to trigger the run-rule. Jackman, Catie Meyer and Rachel Pederson all had RBI doubles to fuel the onslaught.

Jordyn Beck picked up the win in circle, allowing just two earned runs and striking out a pair in the first of her two starts of the weekend.

DU 7, BU 3
Baker fell victim to a late rally in Saturday's closer with the Tigers scoring six runs in the final three innings to snap BU's nine-game winning streak.

Ava Greiner clubbed her first home run of the spring with a three-run bomb in the top of the second to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead. Doane tied it in the fourth and used a three-run bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead. The Tigers tacked on one final run in the sixth to cap their 7-3 win.

BU tallied 10 hits in the game, but couldn't string enough together to add any runs to Greiner's dinger. Hull and Jackman both finished with two hits for their second time of the day, while catcher Yarah Zuiver went 2-for-3 as well.

BU 6, USM 0
The Wildcats used a five-run top of the second to take control in Leavenworth on Sunday and chalk up the first of back-to-back shutouts over the Spires with a 6-0 win in game one.

Kira Baker carved up the Saint Mary lineup all game long, racking up a season-high 14 strikeouts and allowing just one hit in her second scoreless outing of the spring. The senior left-hander has already thrown a no-hitter earlier this year in her first shutout back in February against Midland.

Meyer and Greiner connected on consecutive RBI singles to open up the scoring in the second and Gallagher followed with a two-run double to make it 4-0. Gallagher would later score on an errant throw while stealing third. Pederson came across for the final run in the top of the sixth.

BU 4, USM 0
Baker scored two runs in each of the first two innings of game two to take another early lead that it wouldn't relinquish, completing the sweep with a 4-0 victory.

Zuiver recorded an RBI groundout and Kill scored on a wild pitch to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A bases-loaded walk and another wild pitch tallied the final two runs for BU in the second.

Beck earned her third win of the week, dating back to Monday's victory over Morningside at home, and first shutout of the season. She collected eight strikeouts and allowed only two hits in a terrific start for the junior hurler.

Wrapping up their non-conference slate, the Wildcats head into the Heart of America Conference season with a 12-7 record after boasting a nine-game winning streak at one point, highlighted by a 2-0 shutout over then-No. 11 Midland.

Baker will open conference play next weekend and host No. 15 Missouri Baptist on Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m., followed by a Sunday series against William Woods starting at 2 p.m. at Cavaness Field.

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