It wasn’t until the seventh inning that the Wildcat offense flipped on its switch to rally five runs and tie game one of a doubleheader Wednesday against Culver-Stockton College.
Sophomore Steven Stewart scored the game-winner in the extra inning to give BU its first conference victory of the season, 6-5.
With the bases loaded and one out, Stewart hit a groundball to the second baseman and beat out a double play to finish the game. The ‘Cats trailed the entire contest and were out-hit 12-4, but an ignited seventh inning made the difference.
“We had key hits in key situations,” sophomore Joey Orozco said. “Once we got the bases loaded with zero outs and a few key hits, we figured we had it. Sooner or later we got the runs we needed.”
Orozco was hot at the plate, going two-for-three with one run and an RBI. Stewart pitched in three RBIs and a single. Junior Josh Reed recorded the win from the mound after giving up just two hits in two innings.
Baker jumped out to a comfortable 6-0 lead in game two through four innings before a scare in the sixth inning as Culver-Stockton rallied four runs. Perhaps the most important play of the game came from senior Jeremy Wright, who snagged a homerun-hit ball by the left field fence with two Culver-Stockton runners on base to end the inning.
“It was of the best catches I’ve ever seen and that right there gave us all the confidence we needed to close the game,” Stewart said.
BU secured a 6-5 victory with solid defense and pitching. Sophomore Nathan Wheelock grabbed his first win and sophomore Sean McAllister took the save. Senior Tad Eubanks went two-for-three at the plate and scored two runs. Stewart added two more RBIs and Orozco capped the day going two-for-three with two runs and a RBI.
Stewart said the 2-0 sweep over Culver-Stockton was important for Baker.
“I don’t think we swept one team last year, so starting out the season with a sweep is real big for us,” he said.
Senior Nick Peterson said the sweep will set the ‘Cats apart from other teams in the HAAC.
“I feel really good about our team and we have really good team chemistry,” Peterson said. “As a whole, we’re solid throughout the lineup and pitching staff.”
Baker improved to 2-0 in the conference and 5-5 overall. BU will take on conference foe Lindenwood University Saturday in St. Charles, Mo.
