After jumping out of the gate with a 4-3 record, the Wildcat softball team hit a large bump in the road going 1-7 over spring break.
To start the weeklong break, the ‘Cats headed south to play in the Hilltopper Classic in Austin, Texas, where they were the only NAIA school competing in the tournament. The team returned home unhappy and with a seven-game losing streak to break.
Assistant coach Jade Geuther wrapped up the last week with a few simple words.
“There is no other way to say it,” she said. “We just couldn’t get things going. We are capable of better things, but we didn’t show it.”
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a morning game on March 10 against National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II opponent Emporia State University. The Lady Hornets poured it on early scoring nine runs in the first three innings and eventually winning the game 9-0.
Later that same day, Baker played a doubleheader facing two more NCAA Division II schools. The Wildcats responded from the morning shutout with two runs in the top half of the first against Regis University. However, the lead didn’t last long as the Rangers responded with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Regis would go on to win the game 12-4.
Competing against their third NCAA Division II team of the day, the Wildcats were out-muscled by the University of Incarnate Word Crusaders, 11-3. The Crusaders took an early 6-0 lead in the first game and never looked back as Baker continued its inconsistency at the plate.
Baker was scheduled to open up play on March 11 against Washburn University, but a tragedy in the Washburn family forced the Ichabods to return home early and cancel the game.
The ‘Cats closed out the Classic against the host team, St. Edwards University. Baker threatened early in the game getting runners on base, but the team was unable to execute at critical times.
Rain would be the only thing that could stop the Hilltoppers as they managed to score in each of the first four innings of the game until a rain delay in the fourth inning ended the streak.
After the delay, the ‘Cats held St. Edwards scoreless but still lost 8-0.
On March 13, the Wildcats faced Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. Baker couldn’t right the ship as they lost both ends of a doubleheader, 6-1 and 8-0, respectively.
After the extended road trip, the ‘Cats finally returned home to face Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Lindenwood University. In the first game, Baker extended its losing streak to eight games the ‘Cats lost 9-0 in five innings.
With her team struggling, head coach Jennifer Rigdon turned to senior Kendra Cody for a big start on the mound in game two.
Cody said it was a game the team needed to win, and she felt confident on the mound.
“Since I started the game, I felt like I had more control,” she said. “I knew that if I pitched well and played well, everyone would get behind me and perform.”
Cody held the Lions scoreless through the first three innings and gave her team a chance. Her teammates responded as freshman Marriann Dugan and sophomore Jayde Allen drove in a run each to give the ‘Cats the early 2-0 lead. The big blow of the game came when sophomore Alexis Pryor went deep for the second time this season and extended the lead to three.
Cody battled for her team all game long, but the Lions were able to scrap for one run in the fourth and the fifth.
Lindenwood managed to threaten in the seventh as it had a runner on second with one out in the inning. Cody refused to let her team down and set down the next two hitters in order.
Cody said the win lifted a large monkey off the team’s back.
“It felt amazing,” she said. “It was a big relief.”
The Wildcats did have one setback in the game as Allen injured her hand sliding into third base. Allen said she wasn’t sure how long she would be out.
“I went in hard, and the third baseman happened to step on my hand,” Allen said. “I’m not sure how long I’m going to be out, but hopefully it’s not too long.”
Baker faced Benedictine College Thursday in Atchison, but results were unavailable at press time.
Saturday the ‘Cats will head to Kansas City, Mo., to compete in the Avila Invitational Tournament.
with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Regis would go on to win the game 12-4.
Competing against their third NCAA Division II team of the day, the Wildcats were out-muscled by the University of Incarnate Word Crusaders, losing 11-3.
The ‘Cats closed out the Classic against the host team, St. Edwards University. Baker lost the game, 8-0.
On March 13, the Wildcats faced Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. Baker couldn’t right the ship as they lost, 6-1 and 8-0, respectively.
The ‘Cats returned home Lindenwood University. In the first game, Baker extended its losing streak to eight games the ‘Cats lost 9-0 in five innings.
With her team struggling, head coach Jennifer Rigdon turned to senior Kendra Cody for a big start on the mound in game two.
Cody said it was a game the team needed to win, and she felt confident on the mound.
“Since I started the game, I felt like I had more control,” she said. “I knew that if I pitched well and played well, everyone would get behind me and perform.”
Baker faced Benedictine College Thursday in Atchison, but results were unavailable at press time.