The Baker University baseball team took a huge step forward in wrapping up a spot in the HAAC playoffs this weekend.
By sweeping the Avila Eagles in four games this past weekend, the Wildcats are now first in the HAAC west division standings. With the sweep, the Wildcats are now 9-3 in the West division and are above .500 in conference play.
“We are feeling pretty good right now,” head coach Phil Hannon said. “From where we were at the beginning of the year to being tied for second in the conference and first in our division, it’s a good feeling.”
Eight games remain with two weekend series remaining until the conference playoffs and the Wildcats are in control of their own destiny.
The two remaining series left to play for the Wildcats will be against preseason conference favorite Benedictine College and Graceland University, who is 12-10 in conference play.
“This is definitely where we thought we should have been the entire time. This is where we belong,” senior Ben Mejia said.
After starting the season with a nine-game losing streak and losing 13 of 16 the Wildcats are within five games of a .500 record. Before entering West division play the Wildcats’ hopes to continue their season into the playoffs were slim with a 4-6 record outside of the division. Baker is currently tied for second in the conference overall with a 13-9 record.
“It’s all coming together,” sophomore Dusty Griffin said. “I remember thinking early on, when things were rough — real rough — that nothing was going our way and we couldn’t get anything and then all of the sudden since conference started, we’re playing solid.”
Hannon said the Wildcats have been a good team all season, but haven’t had the breaks.
“Assistant Coach Sadler said you’re not a bad team if you’re losing close games to good teams,” Griffin said.
Another reason the team has been able to make a push toward its first playoff appearance since 1997 has been turn around the offense has made. Since the beginning of conference play, the Wildcats have raised their team batting average 30 points to .277.
In the four games against Avila, the Wildcats relied on many parts of their game to take four in a series that separated Baker away from other teams in the West division.
In game one Friday, senior pitcher Adam Podschun got off to a rough start in the first inning, giving up two runs and throwing three wild pitches after retiring the first two hitters.
“(Podschun) got two early outs, and the toughest out to get is the third out of the inning,” Hannon said. “He got two strikes on one guy, but he was just overthrowing a bit and then all of the sudden he had to regroup.”
Podschun (3-4) would allow just three hits after the first inning in his seven innings, striking out four and walking one.
“I just settled down and went back to focusing and relaxing and making my mechanics work,” Podschun said.
After allowing four base runners to reach in the first Podschun then retired eight straight Avila University hitters. Later on he would retire seven straight. Both batters who broke the streak eventually scored.
Baker’s offense gained back both runs, plus one in its half of the first, with the first three who reached base scoring. The Wildcats would bat around in the second inning, scoring five runs on six hits and a sequence of unfortunate events for Avila.
Griffin led the inning with a single to right followed by a bloop single that left Avila center fielder Derrick Eastum with an apparent injury, although he did not exit the game.
Senior Michael Schooley then attempted to lay a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by pitcher Wes Backus. Backus, attempting to throw Griffin out at third, threw the ball down the left field line where left fielder Patrick Todd came up limping after the ball. Two runs scored on the throwing error, with Schooley reaching third. He would later score along with two other runs to put 8-2.
After the play, Eastum and Todd both left the game. Eastum suffered a broken clavicle and Todd a pulled hamstring. Neither played in the series’ remaining games.
The bottom of the order secured a win in the second game with eight hole hitter junior Kris McDonald getting two hits and driving in a run and ninth place hitter sophomore Kyle King driving in a run in the fourth.
Junior Logan Peck (4-4) pitched seven strong innings earning his third straight win for the Wildcats. Peck allowed six hits and struck out three, lowering his team leading ERA to 3.64.
Baker’s bullpen provided support for the Wildcats in both games in Kansas City. Baker won the first game by scoring three runs in the seventh inning in the first game, and four in the final inning of game two.
This weekend’s series will be against No. 32 Benedictine College. “We’re going to have to come out and play really good,” Griffin said.
Center fielder David Highfill said he hopes the recent success will carry over to a large crowd this weekend that will give the Wildcats an edge.
“We need all the support we can get,” Highfill said. “We’re in a conference race and we’ve had great support so far and when you have to go to other people’s park the next day and they get great support to. So we really want to make this a home game.”
Tomorrow’s game will begin at 1 p.m.