The Baker softball team split a pair of games with Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Missouri Valley on Wednesday afternoon at Cavaness Field. The Wildcats won game one on the run rule 8-0 but fell 5-4 in game two.

“In this conference, the second game is always tougher because you’re more familiar with your opponent,” head coach Jamie Stanclift said.

The ‘Cats opened the doubleheader with five runs in the opening inning of game one.

Freshman Caitlin Hardgrove hit a leadoff double to start the success for the Wildcats. Then sophomore Stephanie Cardona hit a three-run home run on the first pitch she saw. Missouri Valley made three errors in the first inning.

Freshman Olivia Brees struck out seven batters and walked three in five innings. Baker had 13 hits and held the Vikings to just one.

Cardona ended game one with two runs and four RBIs.

In game two, the Vikings struck first, scoring four runs in the third inning and adding another in the fourth.

It wasn’t until the bottom of seventh when the Wildcats rallied. With the bases loaded and two outs, junior Sloane Brady doubled to get the ‘Cats on the board. Senior Cari Vollenweider then hit one to the wall to drive in two more runs.

“We found the excitement in the seventh, but it was too little too late,” Stanclift said.

The Vikings’ Courtney Carl went 2-for-4 and had two RBIs in the second game.

Next up, Baker will travel to Canton, Missouri, to take on Culver-Stockton College in a doubleheader on Saturday. Culver Stockton is currently 21-15 overall and 7-7 in the Heart.

Stanclift hopes to look past the loss and finish the remaining conference games strong.

“The main focus is to play Baker softball,” Stanclift said. “That means team softball with lots of excitement.”