With the game knotted at five in the bottom of the ninth inning, Missouri Valley College’s defense shifted in to protect against Chelsi Taylor’s lefty slap-style hitting.
Bad choice.
“The right fielder was playing really shallow because their team thought left-handed slappers can’t hit,” Taylor, a junior, said. “So I burned one down the right field line for a stand-up triple!”
With the potential game-winning run on third, the Wildcats needed just one run to capture their first sweep of an opponent in three years.
Cue Kelsey Epperson.
“I was really nervous going up to the plate because the time before in an extra inning, I struck out,” Epperson, a Baker Orange sports writer, said. “I wanted to redeem myself.”
And that’s precisely what she did. With two strikes against her, Epperson battled off several foul tips until she saw a pitch she wanted.
When the perfect toss arrived, she took advantage and bombed a walk-off, game-winning double over the backpedaling center fielder’s head. Final score: 6-5, Wildcats.
Taylor, who scored the winning run, was also credited with the win from the mound.
She pitched all seven innings and both extras, despite having just returned from an eight-week knee injury.
“My arm was pretty much dead after throwing those nine innings,” she said.
Just hours before the dramatic finish in the nightcap, the Wildcats bested the Vikings in the first game of the doubleheader, 5-2.
Sophomore Amanda Phelps controlled the mound for BU, giving up only one earned run.
Sophomore Katie Worley hit as if she was being tossed beach balls, tallying six hits in the two games, including two doubles and a triple.
“I saw a lot of fatty pitches against Missouri Valley,” Worley joked. “It’s about time because I was in a slump last week. But now, I’m seeing the ball pretty well.”
Baker traveled Tuesday to Central Methodist but was unable to produce the same firepower as it did the previous day. The Eagles, who are currently second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, won both games in the doubleheader, 4-3 and 16-3.
The Wildcats used the momentum from Monday to gain an early advantage in the first game but a three-run rally in the fifth inning for Central Methodist sealed the deal.
The Eagles played strong small-ball in the second game, registering 18 hits in five innings on Taylor and sophomore pitcher Erin Ford.
The Wildcats move to 11-18 on the season and 3-7 in the league. Their final home game at Cavaness Field is scheduled for Friday.
