The Baker University softball team swept Bethany College Tuesday after freshman Renata Dill hit a walk-off, two-run home run, helping the Wildcats to a 3-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader.

“We did good at not giving up,” freshman Maggie Holmberg said. “In the first game, it came down to the wire, we had some people step up and get some big hits. I think we showed that we can come back.”

Freshman Cami Williams had a run in the fourth inning, putting the Wildcats in the lead. Bethany came back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth before Dill hit the game-winning home run.

“Our bats were a little cold throughout the game, but when we needed it, someone stepped up and got a hit,” senior Kim Gilges said.

Game two for the Wildcats and Swedes was another close one, with BU edging out Bethany 4-3.

Bethany scored in the first inning, but junior Brooke Allen tied it up, hitting a home run on the first pitch thrown to Baker.

“Brooke Allen is leading us in (batting average) right now, and that’s our biggest weakness, so I know I am looking up to her,” Holmberg said. “She’s consistently good at batting.”

Senior Katie Worley had two runs and sophomore Tara Heinrich had one run.

Over spring break, the team lost to William Penn University 9-8 and 8-0, and split games against Friends University, winning 5-3 and losing 8-3.

Sophomore Austin Boehm tied the score of the first William Penn game in the seventh inning with a two-run home run. Baker had 13 hits, but too many defensive errors cost them the game.

In the second game, the team had its first run-rule of the year, which ended the game early.

“They hit the ball, we didn’t,” head coach Matt Windle said.

Windle said the team has been battling errors all season, however the team is improving constantly.

“When you’re rebuilding a program, there’s not a magic fix,” Windle said.

Baker now sits with an overall record of 9-9. The team already has more home runs than it did the whole season last year.

“They’re playing together, they work hard and they want to push themselves,” Windle said.

The Wildcats played their first conference game against William Jewell College Thursday, but results were not available at presstime.

Baker plays Missouri Valley College at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Park University at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday. Both games are in Baldwin City.