Baker Baseball Wraps Up Regular Season, Prepares for Heart Tourney

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The Baker University baseball team wrapped up the regular season portion of its schedule with a four-game series against Avila over the weekend and will now prepare for the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament on May 5-10 at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Missouri.

Baker fell to Avila in three of the four games and enters the conference tournament, 22-29 overall and 16-16 in conference play.

Avila won games 1-3 by scores of 2-1, 3-0 and 7-0, while Baker captured game four, 3-2.

In game four, four different Wildcats pitched with senior Justin Bye getting the star. He threw four innings and allowed just three hits.

While Evan Coder, Bennett White and Matt Gruber all threw one scoreless inning and Gruber earned the save, with Coder getting the victory.

Baker had five hits on its three runs and Travis Johnson led the way with a 2-for-3 game. Charlie Coleman and Cort Brennan drove in one RBI each and Coleman, Eric Rausch and Jamaal Rashad scored the three runs.

Avila won the Heart regular season championship out-right with its 24-8 conference mark and enters the post-season with an overall record of 33-22.

Baker also celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, as they honored 11 seniors including Seth Jones, Justin Bye, Austin Bass, Travis Johnson, Eric Rausch, Neal Boyce, Gabe Greenbaum, Charlie Coleman, Cort Brennan, Ethan Jacks and Matt Gruber.

NAIA Baseball Box Score Game 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Baker (Kan.)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	6	0
Avila (Mo.)	0	0	0	0	0	2	X		2	5	1

NAIA Baseball Box Score Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Baker (Kan.)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	6	0
Avila (Mo.)	0	1	0	1	0	1	X		3	8	0

NAIA Baseball Box Score Game 3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Avila (Mo.)	0	4	2	1	0	0	0		7	4	1
Baker (Kan.)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	2	7

NAIA Baseball Box Score Game 4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Avila (Mo.)	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		2	6	0
Baker (Kan.)	1	0	0	0	2	0	X		3	5	1