The Baker University softball team dropped five of its last six games, which now puts the team at 23-18 overall and 10-7 in conference play.
The Wildcats participated in the William Jewell Invitational April 14-15, with their only win coming against Graceland University. They fell to William Woods University, the No. 13 team in the nation, by a score of 6-3 and were shutout twice by Columbia College.
Senior third baseman Jade Geuther said Baker faced some tough competition in the tournament in Liberty, Mo.
“It went OK,” Geuther said. “We didn’t play bad, and we didn’t have many errors. The other teams just played really well.”
Geuther, co-captain, said despite those losses, the team is getting better.
“We’re coming around at the end of the year when we need it,” she said. “We’re playing pretty well.”
Senior center fielder Kristen Ball said the team needs to become more consistent offensively.
“We’re getting hits,” Ball said. “We need to execute on offense and not leave runners onbase.”
Geuther said the team is improving, but it is not where it needs to be.
“We’re making contact now,” Geuther said. “We just need to get the ball on the ground. And??when we do get people on, we’re just not executing.”
The Wildcats didn’t execute Wednesday in Olathe when they took on MidAmerica Nazarene University and are tied with for second in the conference. The ‘Cats fell to the Pioneers in both games by scores of 7-3 and 3-1 causing them to drop to third in conference play.
Junior pitcher Jana Smith, who pitched in the first game against the Pioneers, said Baker hit well in the two losses.
“We out hit them,” Smith said, “we just didn’t put them together.”
The Wildcats play Saturday in a doubleheader at Lindenwood University and then finish out the regular season with another doubleheader at Missouri Valley College. The HAAC tournament starts April 28 and concludes April 29.
This year’s HAAC tournament will be held in Liberty, Mo. If play started today the Wildcats would be the third seed.
Last year’s team went on to the NAIA Region V tournament, narrowly missing a bid to nationals.