Wildcats Earn 2-1 Win in Game 2 of Triple Header vs. Briar Cliff

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Getting into the win column, the Wildcats won game two against Briar Cliff this past weekend, while dropping two games to Missouri Baptist and two more to Briar Cliff.

Game 1 vs. Missouri Baptist – L, 12-9

On Thursday, Evan Gottstein took the hill and threw 3.2 innings, while Gage Callaghan, Jaxon Holzem and Kole Starlin threw the final 3.1 innings. Baker had nine hits in the game as Kolden Howerton led the 'Cats with three hits, while Jon Jenkins added two hits.

Baker fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but a double from Howerton and a bases loaded walk gave Baker the lead in the second inning, 2-1. After MBU tied the game at two in the third inning, Baker got hot in the bottom of the third and scored six runs to lead 8-2 after two innings.

The Spartans cut into the lead, but after Baker pushed the lead to 9-5 after four innings, MBU hit one solo home run in the fifth and two three-run shots in the top of the sixth as they went on to win game one, 12-9.

Game 2 vs. Missouri Baptist, L, 16-6

Five pitchers pitched for Baker in game two on Thursday including Trent Davidson, Jake Miller, Brayden Vawter, Ty Clark and Erich Pouch. Howerton again had a strong game, going 4-for-4 as he picked up 7 hits in the doubleheader.

A two-run home run got MBU on the board in the first, but Tanner Twillman returned the favor in the bottom half with a two-run shot of his own. Before the inning was over, another run was scored on a balk and Baker led 3-2.

With Baker trailing just 5-3, MBU scored 11 unanswered runs through the sixth inning. Baker got one run in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't keep the game alive as they fell in game two, 16-6.

Game 1 vs. Briar Cliff – L, 6-3

Moving into the weekend, the Wildcats played a tripleheader against the Chargers of Briar Cliff. Holzem got the start in game one, throwing 4.2 innings and Callaghan and Eden Schimmel combined for the final 2.1 innings. Baker had just five hits in the game with two coming from Sevon Battle.

The Wildcats struggled to get going early as they fell behind 6-0 through the first six innings, but a double from Javier Aguirre and a groundout scored three runs. The three runs cut the lead in half but Baker could not finish the comeback as they fell in game one of the series, 6-3.

Game 2 vs. Briar Cliff – W, 2-1

Caden Pogue then took the hill in game two and threw a gem, going six full innings and striking out seven while only giving up one run on two hits. Kole Starlin then entered the game for the final three outs and earned the save.

An RBI from Aguirre got the scoring going in the bottom of the second, then in the bottom of the third, Holzem homered to left field and extend the Baker lead to 2-0. In the top of the sixth, the Chargers got a run on a wild pitch, but could not tie the game as Baker picked up their first win of the season, defeating Briar Cliff, 2-1.

Game 3 vs. Briar Cliff – L, 5-3

Finishing off a long day of baseball, Clayton Detherage started game three of the day, pitching three innings, while Erik Kelly and Kole Starlin added 2.2 and 1.1 respectively. Holzem was the only Wildcat to pick up a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3.

The Chargers got things rolling early to lead 4-0 after 2.5 innings, but a Brayden Vawter two-run home run cut the lead in half, 4-2. In the very next inning, Brennan Johnson doubled down the right field line and brought the Wildcats within one.

Briar Cliff then added one run in the sixth and that would end the scoring in the game as Baker dropped game three of the tripleheader, 5-3.

The Wildcats are now 1-9 on the season. They will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday as they compete in the Wildcat Classic at the Homefield Complex in Kansas City, Kan.

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