A week’s worth of rest left the Baker University baseball team rusty for Wednesday’s conference doubleheader against Culver-Stockton College.
The ‘Cats dropped both games and sit at 9-9 in the close Heart of America Athletic Conference race.
Wet weather conditions forced Baker to forego a home game and meet Culver at MidAmerica Nazarene University to use its baseball facility.
Though outhitting Culver in the first game 9-6, Baker struggled to execute offensively and lost 5-0. Coming off of pitching a full 10-inning game, senior Vidal Nuno started for the ‘Cats and threw six innings.
“Even though it was a week later, it takes a toll on your body, so we knew it wasn’t going to be his best stuff,” head coach Phil Hannon said.
Freshmen Steven Stewart and Jared Herbert and junior Nick Peterson all collected two hits apiece.
Nuno said Culver’s ability to jump out and score early put the ‘Cats in a deficit.
“We weren’t there (Wednesday). We just weren’t too excited to be there,” Nuno said. “It was just a laid-back game we played and that cost us.”
In game two, Culver built off of its momentum and came out hot, taking the game 9-1. Baker collected five hits, compared to Culver’s 13, two of which were sent over the fence.
Similar to game one, the ‘Cats struggled to score runners as they stranded 11 on the base paths.
Freshman Nathan Wheelock made the start on the rubber and pitched five innings before Peterson came in for relief for the first time in his Baker career.
“I pitched when I was little, so I have good mechanics, but I need to work on some things,” he said.
Hannon said if a future situation arises and the team needs the shortstop to revert to the mound again, it will use him.
“He really did well,” Hannon said. “He’s around the plate and didn’t walk anybody and made them put it in play.”
BU plays Friday and Saturday in a series against MidAmerica Nazarene University.