The season ended for the Baker University softball team Friday after Evangel University won a best-of-three series 6-4 and 4-0, sending the Wildcats home from the conference tournament.

“We had some miscommunications that caused errors, and those added up,” freshman Kayla Morse said.

Junior Brooke Allen recorded two runs in the first game. Freshman Maggie Holmberg and senior Kim Gilges also contributed a run in game one.

Holmberg pitched the first game, but was moved to shortstop during the sixth inning when sophomore Heather Gruber took over on the pitcher’s mound.

The Wildcats’ struggles continued in the second game, as the ‘Cats had three hits and were shut out.

“I think it was kind of a mental thing, because physically we were ready to play them, but mentally we didn’t really show up to play,” freshman Tara Chumley said.

Despite losing in the first round of the conference tournament, Chumley said the Wildcats are proud of their season.

“Although the season didn’t end up how we wanted it to be, we have nothing to hang our heads about,” Chumley said. “We definitely stepped up our expectations of the program.”

Baker, which had a record of 18-31 and was ranked eighth in the HAAC last year, improved its record this season with a 31-21 record and a fifth place ranking in the conference.

“It was nice to see that we could bring in quite a few new faces and be able to incorporate them in and succeed,” head coach Matt Windle said.

The team broke five Baker team and individual records. The team recorded the most wins in a season and the most home runs hit by a team in a season in the program’s history.

Holmberg broke the records for most shutouts by a pitcher and the most strikeouts in a season, with 136. Allen broke the record for home runs, with eight, and also scored 37 runs on the season.

“We had a lot of team chemistry, and it wasn’t like we went out and tried to break records, but when you go out and everybody works together and does their own job, that’s what happens,” Chumley said.

Four players will be graduating this year and one will be leaving to attend nursing school in the fall.

“It was nice that the seniors were able to come out with an extremely positive season,” Windle said.

Windle has recruited four players so far to join the team next year.

“I’m excited to see how much more we can improve with the new recruits next year,” Morse said.