Leavenworth, Kan.—

Game One:

Baker (Kan.) used a five-run second inning and a dominant pitching performance from NAIA Pitcher of the Week, Kira Baker, to hand the University of Saint Mary a 6-0 loss in game one on Sunday afternoon at the USM Softball Field.

The decisive frame came in the top of the second, when Baker strung together four run-scoring plays to seize control. Meyer opened the scoring with an RBI single to bring in Jackman, and Greiner followed with a run-scoring single as another run came home. Gallagher then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, ripping a two-run double to left to push the lead to 4-0. Gallagher later came around to score on an overthrow as Baker capped the five-run outburst.

The Spire defense settled in after the early damage but was unable to erase the deficit. The Spires were charged with two errors on the day, including a miscue in the fifth inning that led to Baker's final run. In that frame, Zuiver reached on an error, and Pederson scored on the play to make it 6-0.

Offensively, Grace Rose would rack up the Spires only hit in game one with a knock to right field. Outside of Rose, USM was stymied by the Wildcats leader in the circle, who turned in a complete-game one-hitter. The right-hander worked all 7.0 innings, allowing two walks while striking out 14. The Spires finished with three runners left on base and were unable to generate a sustained threat against Baker's strikeout-heavy outing.

Saint Mary's pitching staff consisting of starter Grace Rose and Desarae Chavez recorded four strikeouts over 7.0 innings and limited Baker to eight hits, but the Wildcats capitalized efficiently on their opportunities.

Defensively, Saint Mary played error-free after the fifth and kept Baker off the board over the final two innings, giving the Spires a chance to compete late. However, the Wildcat's control in the circle and clean defense — no errors and just four runners left on base — left little margin for a Spire comeback.
 
Game Two:

The final game of the series saw another early offensive surge from the Wildcats as the Spires dropped game two with a final score of 4-0.

Baker did all of its scoring in the first two innings, capitalizing on free bases and timely contact, while the game two starter for BU held the Spires to two hits over seven innings. USM played clean defense with no errors and kept Baker off the board over the final five frames but could not generate the offense needed to close the early gap.

Baker struck quickly in the top of the first. After loading the bases, Zuiver drove in the opening run with a ground out that scored Pederson. Later in the inning, Kill came home on a wild pitch to give the visitors a 2-0 lead before Saint Mary could escape further damage.

The Wildcats doubled the margin in the second. Greiner ripped a double and Baker again filled the bases, setting up another scoring opportunity. Meyer crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Pederson, and Greiner followed by scoring on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 4-0. The USM pitching settled from there, holding Baker scoreless the rest of the way despite eight total hits and five walks allowed.

On the defensive side, the Spire defense backed their staff consisting of starter Brooklyn LaFon and Bianca Venegas with a mistake-free effort in the field, and stranded nine Baker runners. USM's staff finished the day by limiting extra damage after the shaky first two frames, giving the lineup multiple chances to claw back into the contest.

Offensively, however, Grace Rose and Analesa Gonzalez would account for the only Spire hits, with Rose doubling to right field in the bottom of the second and Gonzalez singling in the fourth. Saint Mary just could not solve BU's ring leader Jordyn Beck the rest of the way. The Baker righty spun a complete-game shutout, scattering two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. The Spires put three runners on base over seven innings but were unable to come up with a key hit, as Beck closed the game with a scoreless seventh to secure the 4-0 final.

USM will eagerly begin KCAC action this week as they head to York University in Nebraska to take on the Panthers. The opening conference double header will begin on Tuesday, March 10^th with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.