After traveling south to Bethany and Muskogee, Okla., the Baker University baseball team experienced a little inconsistency in its first outing for the spring season.
The ‘Cats split games with Southern Nazarene University on Saturday and Bacone College on Sunday, making their record 2-2. Head coach Phil Hannon said despite the lack of practice outside, the team used its natural ability to carry itself through the weekend.
“A couple of times it showed that we haven’t been out on the field very much,” Hannon said. “The players showed a lot of heart and realized that all they have to do is play baseball and things will come to them naturally.”
For freshman second baseman Nick Peterson, things seemed to come naturally, indeed. Peterson started his first collegiate experience by going four for five at the plate with one walk in two games against Southern Nazarene on Saturday. Peterson said he relied on the mental part of the game to carry him through the weekend.
“I got a little nervous at first, but once I got in the game, the adrenaline took over and I didn’t really think about it after the first pitch,” he said. “I think I just stayed mentally tough the entire weekend.”
Despite Peterson’s performance at the plate, it wasn’t enough for the ‘Cats to overcome an early deficit. Perhaps the most important component was the absence of ace pitcher Logan Peck. Peck, who was supposed to start the first game, was out for the entire weekend with food poisoning. Junior Bryce Davin was unexpectedly thrown into the Baker lineup as a replacement for Peck. With the lack of pitching preparation and offensive scoring, the team went on to lose its season opener 10-0 in just five innings.
The ‘Cats bounced back, however, in the second game with the help of early scoring and solid pitching by sophomore Jeremiah Johnson. The early scoring began in the first inning when the team tallied four runs before giving up three to Southern Nazarene. Senior Ben Mejia contributed to the offensive power by hitting a late home run, which scored three runs to seal the game 9-3. The victory gave Johnson his first collegiate win.
Senior Jake Landis, who closed the game on the mound, said Johnson’s performance was vital to the team’s success.
“Jeremiah did a really good job of pitching. He went out and got his first win in college. He also did a good job after we lost the first game and gave us a chance to win, which was really important,” Landis said.
Inconsistency followed the team into Sunday when they faced Bacone College. An early 2-1 Wildcat lead was exploited in the fourth inning after a base hit and home run by the Warriors to take a 7-2 lead. Junior Hanson Perkins was brought in to close the game. Although he was able to pitch a shutout inning, it wasn’t enough to shut down the Warriors, who followed the inning with five more runs to end the game, 12-2, in the sixth inning.
The ‘Cats once again battled their way back from defeat in the second game against Bacone with a 10-9 victory. The ‘Cats exploded offensively in the first inning scoring five runs and added three more in the second inning from a single by junior Aaron Westerhouse. The Warriors’ effort to battle back was cut short with the help of Landis, who closed out the game to a victory.
Hannon said he was impressed with the team’s effort in battling back compared to the team last year.
“In close ball games last year, we didn’t win,” Hannon said. “I think we did a good job of battling back. We held them off and shut them down. It allowed us to gain momentum; that was big.”
Hannon said the weekend allowed the team to come home with success, and most importantly, it gave the ‘Cats the opportunity to play ball.
“We were able to evaluate where we’re at right now, and (the games) provided us with confidence at the beginning of the season,” he said. “Coming away with two victories and splitting on the road is always positive.”
The next action for the ‘Cats will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sauder Field against Southern Nazarene.pitching. He went out and got his first win in college. He also did a good job after we lost the first game and gave us a chance to win, which was really important,” Landis said.
Inconsistency followed the team into Sunday when they faced Bacone College. An early 2-1 Wildcat lead was exploited in the fourth inning after a base hit and home run by the Warriors to take a 7-2 lead. Junior Hanson Perkins was brought in to close the game. Although he was able to pitch a shutout inning, it wasn’t enough to shut down the Warriors, who followed the inning with five more runs to end the game, 12-2, in the sixth inning.
The ‘Cats once again battled their way back from defeat in the second game against Bacone with a 10-9 victory. The ‘Cats exploded offensively in the first inning scoring five runs and added three more in the second inning from a single by junior Aaron Westerhouse. The Warriors’ effort to battle back was cut short with the help of Landis, who closed out the game to a victory.
Hannon said he was impressed with the team’s effort in battling back compared to the team last year.
“In close ball games last year, we didn’t win,” Hannon said. “I think we did a good job of battling back. We held them off and shut them down. It allowed us to gain momentum; that was big.”
Hannon said the weekend allowed the team to come home with success, and most importantly, it gave the ‘Cats the opportunity to play ball.
“We were able to evaluate where we’re at right now, and (the games) provided us with confidence at the beginning of the season,” he said. “Coming away with two victories and splitting on the road is always positive.”
The next action for the ‘Cats will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sauder Field against Southern Nazarene.