Senior Kim Gilges hit a grand slam Tuesday against Culver-Stockton College, but this grand slam was special for Gilges.
“It was my first collegiate home run, so it was pretty awesome,” Gilges said. “It was kind of an emotional thing. It’s coming close to the end of my senior season, and it is just a very exciting time for me.”
The home run helped the Baker University softball team to a 5-0 win in the first game of the doubleheader. The Wildcats went on to win the second game 3-2 when junior Brooke Allen hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“We hit really well and played good defense,” sophomore Heather Gruber said. “It was really a team effort.”
After the sweep of Culver-Stockton, Baker split games with Graceland University Wednesday. The Wildcats carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the ‘Cats then gave away two runs. Graceland won the game 3-2 in 10 innings.
Despite the game one loss, Baker was able to shutout Graceland 3-0 in the second game.
“Our pitching staff is doing its job,” head coach Matt Windle said. “Between Heather (Gruber), (freshman) Maggie (Holmberg) and Erin (Greenwood), they’re keeping us in just about every game we’ve ever played.”
Though the Wildcats are having success, they have recently come across sickness and injury. Freshman Cami Williams, who recently recovered from a slipped disc, was injured again Tuesday after hyper-extending her knee while playing shortstop.
Other players on the team have been falling ill, including Allen, who was taken out of the second Graceland game Wednesday.
“We’re battling some pretty good sickness right now,” Windle said.
Baker only has five doubleheaders left, two of which are against conference teams.
As of Wednesday, the team was ranked No. 2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference behind MidAmerica Nazarene University. April 29 marks the first round of the HAAC playoffs, and to host the conference tournament, the Wildcats must be ranked in the top four.
“We just need to keep our bats hot and keep doing what we’re doing. It’s been working for us,” Gruber said.
The Wildcats play their last home games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday at Canvaness Field against Evangel University. Between the two games against Evangel, four seniors, as well as Gruber, who is leaving at the end of the year to attend the Baker University School of Nursing next year, will be honored for Senior Day.
Baker will also face non-conference opponents Washburn University, Bellevue College in Neb., and Kansas Wesleyan University before entering the HAAC playoffs.
