Junior Brandon Truitt’s three-run slam over the fence not only kept the Baker baseball team’s game alive, but playoff hopes as well.
The ‘Cats closed a 6-5 victory over Evangel University in a game that was started earlier in the season but postponed due to rain. The game was picked up Tuesday where it left off three weeks ago: the bottom of the fifth inning with a 4-3 Crusader lead.
Baker did not score in the fifth inning like it had planned, but made up for the deficit with an explosive sixth. Sophomore Steven Stewart jumpstarted the offense with a single, and senior Tad Eubanks mimicked his lead with another.
“I knew with the top of our lineup we would be able to score a couple of runs, so we had a couple of guys get on and Truitt took care of business,” Stewart said.
Truitt’s home run sealed the game to give BU a 6-5 advantage. Truitt said he treated it like any other at-bat and was focused on getting a base hit.
“I was pretty excited,” Truitt said. “That put us at a really good chance and we got all the momentum to win the game and get one step closer to the playoffs.”
Head coach Phil Hannon said the team’s preparation and focus were key in the win.
“We’re in playoff mode right now and in order to get into the conference tournament, we had to come out with our focus to win and stay in,” Hannon said. “If we didn’t get that win, we wouldn’t have a chance for the tournament.”
The ‘Cats fell 4-0 in a game Saturday at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Baker had just six hits and was unable to execute runs as the team stranded nine base runners. Stewart and Truitt each had two hits.
Game two of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for 4 p.m. Friday in Olathe. Baker holds a 15-23 overall record and is 11-14 in the HAAC. The ‘Cats have important games ahead to close the regular season as they are tied for sixth in a conference that advances the top six teams to tournament play. BU will finish at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sauder Field against MidAmerica Nazarene in the season finale. This marks senior day for six players, and the stakes are high as this group could make its first playoff appearance ever.
“The games are extremely important,” Stewart said. “Hopefully we can win three in a row and do it for the seniors who have never been there.”
