Wildcats Drop Home Non-Conference Doubleheader to Spires

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Baker baseball fell in both games of its midweek home series to non-conference foe Saint Mary here Wednesday evening at Sauder Field.

Despite outhitting the Spires, 7-6 on the day, the Wildcats offense was held scoreless as USM scored late in each game to sweep the doubleheader on shutouts of 2-0 and 3-0.

Using the non-con matchup to give its bullpen plenty of work, BU sent out 11 total pitchers in the series with most of them only going one inning, resulting in all but two of them recording scoreless outings.

John Green drew the start in game one before turning things over to Jake Miller in the second, followed by Spencer McGuire, Brayden Youkon, Kole Starlin and then Eden Schimmel, who pitched in the seventh.

A couple of free passes led to the game-winning runs for the Spires in the sixth in game one with USM drawing a leadoff walk, followed by a hit-by-pitch with one out. The USM runners then executed a double steal before coming home on a two-run single from their two-hole hitter Maverick Rockers and scoring the game's only runs.

The Wildcats had an opportunity to reach the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third with Brady Friend leading the inning off with the first of his two hits in the game. Jaidon Bowers followed by laying down a perfect bunt to reach safely and give BU runners at first and second with nobody out.

USM was able to get the lead runner out on another sac bunt play from BU on the ensuing at-bat before getting consecutive flyouts to squash the Wildcats' scoring threat.

Baker had multiple runners on in the seventh as well with Eli Young hitting a leadoff single and Chris Bollefer drawing a one-out walk. The Spires spoiled the rally though with their third and final double play of the game to seal the 2-0 win for the visitors.

Game two also featured a pitching battle between the two squads with Saint Mary once again coming through with late runs as a three-run seventh doomed the Wildcats in their second straight setback.

Gavin Alvarez, Ty Clark, Mason Chance and Peyton Bowers tossed the first five scoreless innings for BU and Vaughn Wells pitched a 1-2-3 sixth before being tagged for the loss in the seventh.

After outhitting USM in game one, the Wildcats were only able to tally two hits in the second game with singles from Cade Adams and Alejandro Reinaldo.

Adams led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit to center and stole second to put himself into scoring position with no outs. He eventually made it to third, but the Spires escaped the jam with a couple of strikeouts and a grounder back to the pitcher.

With just two hits coming into the frame, Saint Mary used two hits and a costly BU error to score its three runs in the top of the seventh. A one-out single resulted in a USM runner scoring all the way from first on a skipped ball in the outfield and then a two-out single brought two more runs across to give the Spires a 3-0 lead.

Reinaldo's one-out single in the bottom of the seventh couldn't spark a late rally as USM held on to take both games of the doubleheader.

Pushing the series back a day due to projected weather, Baker will jump back into conference action with a home matchup against Clarke, starting on Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m. at Sauder Field. The two teams will close out the series on Monday, April 7 with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.

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