Lawrence Reporter

Wildcats Take 2-of-3 From Dakota State in Final Non-Conference Series Before Heart of America Play

Over the weekend, the Baker baseball team faced off with Dakota State University, and the Wildcats were able to take 2-of-3 from the Trojans, sweeping the Sunday doubleheader.

Game One (L, 5-2)

Starting out the weekend, the Wildcats played a nine-inning game against the Trojans on Saturday. Christian Spitz got the start, throwing four innings and allowing two runs on two hits before Jaxon Kutch and Logan Whelan combined to throw the final five innings.

Baker had eight hits in game one, with Quinton Graham, Tanner Twillman and Darwin Oleaga coming up with two hits each.

After a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Trojans got on the board first, scoring two runs on a single up the middle to make it 2-0 early. In the bottom of the third, Baker was able to get on the board with a solo home run from Quinton Graham.

Dakota State then hit a home run of their own in the top of the fifth, scoring two more. They then added another run in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice to make it 5-1. Baker tacked on one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as they lost game one of the series, 5-2.

Game Two (W, 4-3)

Camden Karlin got the call for game two on the hill and delivered for Baker, throwing a seven-inning complete game, while allowing just three runs on seven hits. John Raybourn was the only Wildcat with multiple hits as he went 2-for-2 at the plate, while driving in two runs.

It wasn't until the bottom of the second inning that the scoring got going, but with two outs and a runner on second, John Raybourn crushed a home run to right-center and gave Baker an early 2-0 lead.

Dakota State was able to get two runs in the fourth inning, but Baker came right back and added two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a squeeze play followed by an error to push their lead back to two, 4-2.

In the sixth, the Trojans cut the lead to one, but Camden Karlin did not give up another hit as Baker went on to win game two of the series, 4-3.

Game Three (W, 5-0)

With the series on the line, Caden Pogue was called upon to take the bump. He had an outstanding performance, not allowing a single run on three hits, while striking out eight batters. Evan Gottstein and Luke Smith were able to combine to throw the final two innings for Baker. Baker had six hits in the final game of the series, with two of those hits coming from Brian Hawkins.

With one out and Peyton Sparks on third in the bottom of the third inning, a wild pitch was able to put Baker on the board with a 1-0 lead. Neither team then scored for the next five innings until Baker got things rolling in the eighth inning.

Oleaga was able to drive in two runs on a single up the middle, then after the second out of the inning, Hawkins singled to left field to score one and Gabriel Lopez finished off the scoring as he scored on a wild pitch to make Baker's lead 5-0 heading into the ninth. Smith gave up one hit in the ninth but was able to put the game away as Baker won 5-0 and won the series, 2-1.

Baker is now 7-8 on the season. They will be back in action on Saturday, March 11, when they host Culver-Stockton for their first conference game at 1 p.m., at Sauder Field.

 

Original source can be found here.