Baker baseball sweeps Mac-Hi

The sweep keeps Baker a game ahead of La Grande (6-2) in the race for the GOL title. La Grande swept Ontario Friday.

“Any time you sweep on the road it’s a good time,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship.

The two games were like night and day. Baker cruised in the opener, but had to battle from behind in the second game.

Stephen Talbot’s run-scoring single, and a bases-loaded walk to Grant Marcum gave Baker a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the first game.

Jordan Harlow’s sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot, and Cole Brown’s two-run double sparked a 6-run fourth inning. Derek Blankenship and Dekker Smith each added RBI singles in the inning.

Harlow closed out the scoring with an RBI hit in the sixth.

Brown threw the first six innings for the win, striking out nine. Marcum pitched the seventh.

“It was a well played game,” Coach Blankenship said. “Cole threw a real good game for us, and we got some timely hits.”

Game 2 was a different story.

The Bulldogs trailed 7-5 after two innings. Smith’s fielder’s choice and a bases-loaded walk to Harlow scored Baker’s two runs in the first inning.

A two-run single by Blankenship, and an RBI hit by Smith plated Baker’s three second-inning runs.

Baker then pulled within 7-6 in the third when Trace Richardson tripled and rode home on Jon Woolard’s sacrifice fly.

Baker took an 8-7 lead in the top of the fourth. One run scored on a balk, the other on Ty Everson’s RBI single.

Then, after Mac-Hi tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs regained the lead for good with two runs in th efifth. Blankenship and Everson drove i nthe runs with singles.

Baker then put the game out of reach with five runs in the seventh. Everson drove in two with a double. Woolard had an RBI single, and Blankenship a bases-loaded walk to score another.

Blankenship, the third Baker pitcher in the game, earned the win. He threw the final five innings.

“We chopped away,” said Coach Blankenship. “We were swinging the bats well.”

Baker hosts Grant Union in a non-league doubleheader Tuesday at the Baker Sports Complex. The Bulldogs then return to GOL play Saturday when they host La Grande in a key twinbill.

First game

Baker    0    2    0    6    0    1    0    —    9

Mac-Hi    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    —    0

Brown, Marcum (7) and Marcum, Barr (7). WP – Brown (4-2).

Baker hits – Marcum, Brown, Blankenship 2, Smith 2, Harlow 2, Everson, Talbot 2.

Baker RBI – Marcum, Brown 2, Blankenship, Smith, Harlow 3.

2B – Brown, Smith. HR – Harlow (6).

Second game

Baker    2    3    1    2    2    0    5    —    15

Mac-Hi    3    4    0    1    0    0    0    —    8

Everson, Barr (2), Blankenship (3) and Marcum. WP – Blankenship (3-0).

Baker hits – Richardson, Marcum 2, Brown, Blankenship 2, Smith 2, Harlow, Everson 3, Woolard.

Baker RBI – Blankenship 3, Smith 2, Harlow, Everson 3, Woolard 2.

2B – Everson. 3B – Richardson.