Baker baseball sweeps Ontario

The Bulldogs used their short game to come from behind for a 5-4 8-inning win in the opener. Baker then rode a two-homerun, 8-RBI effort from Jordan Harlow to win the second game 13-3 in 5 innings.

In the first game, Cole Brown laid down a one-out squeeze bunt along the first base line scoring Stephen Talbot with the winning run in the eighth.

Talbot opened the inning with a walk and stole second. He advanced to third on a single by Grant Marcum. Brown then tapped the ball toward first. Talbot slid home before Ontario could make a play.

“Game 1 was a game of execution,” said Baker coach Dan Blankenship.

“A couple of times we had runners on and our hitters just crushed the ball. Cole did a great job of executing the bunt in the last inning.”

Baker turned two double plays, and picked a runner off base to help shut down Ontario rallies.

“Those double play balls really helped,” Blanknehsip said.

Trailing 1-0 in the third, Baker tied the game thanks to two Ontario errors. With Marcum on third via the first error, Dekker Smith struck out for what would have been the final out of the inning. But, Ontario catcher Victor Machuca dropped the third strike allowing Smith to break for first. Machuca’s throw was wide leaving Smith safe and Marcum scoring.

Trace Richardson gave Baker a 2-1 lead in the fourth when he lined a double down the left field line scoring Ty Everson from second.

Ontario answered with three runs in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

Not to be outdone, Baker had an answer of its own in the bottom of the seventh. With Marcum and Derek Blankenship on base and two outs, Harlow chopped a high bouncer toward third that went over the fielder’s head scoring both runners and knotting the game at 4-4.

Blankenship then took the mound in relief of Brown and got Ontario out despite allowing two baserunners.

Brown struck out six and walked one in seven innings. Blankenship struck out two, walked one and hit a batter while gaining the win in the eighth.

The Bulldogs struck quickly in the second game, scoring 11 runs in the first two innings.

Harlow, who finished the day 5-for-7 with two homers, a double and 10 RBIs, slugged a three-run homer in the first inning. Blankenship added a two-run double.

Harlow then added a grand slam, his fifth homer of the season, in the second inning. Richardson followed with a solo homer. Alex Clark added an RBI single.

Harlow’s RBI double, and Brandon Dolby’s sacrifice fly completed Baker’s scoring.

Everson ran his season record to 6-0, allowing seven hits in four innings. Everson struck out one and walked one. Blankenship picked up his first save, pitching an uneventful fifth.

“All three of our pitchers threw very well today,” Coach Blankenship said.

Marcum picked off his second runner of the day, the Baker infield turned its third doubleplay, and Baker outfielders threw two Ontario runners out on the bases to help the cause.

“We work hard on our outfield defense,” Blankenship said.

“Jordan did a great job of situational hitting. Several of our guys up and down the lineup did a great job of hitting today.

“We had kids step it up again. We work hard from freshmen to seniors to get the job done. I was real pleased today.”

Baker (5-1 in the GOL) hosts Burns in a single non-league game Tuesday.

First game

Ontario    0    0    1    0    3    0    0    0    —  4

Baker    0    0    1    1    0    0    2    1    —  5

Horn and Machuca. Brown, Blankenship (8) and Marcum. WP – Blankenship (2-0). LP – Horn.

Ontario hits – Martinez, Barba 2, Fields 2, Raetz 2, Turner, Horn. Baker hits – Marcum 3, Harlow 2, Blankenship 2, Everson, Richardson, Brown.

Ontario RBI – Barba 2, Turner 2. Baker RBI – Harlow 2, Richardson, Brown.

2B – Martinez, Marcum, Richardson. HR – Barba.

Second game

Ontario    1    0    0    2    0    —    3

Baker    5    6    1    1    x    —    13

Navarette, Barba (1), Martinez (2) and Machuca. Everson, Blankenship (5) and Marcum. WP – Everson (6-0). LP – Navarette. S – Blankenship (1).

Ontario hits – Fields, Mejia, Raetz 2, Navarette 2, Alvarado, Martinez. Baker hits – Blankenship, Smith, Harlow 3, Everson, Brown, Clark, Barr, Richardson 2.

Ontario RBI – Mejia, Raetz, Martinez. Baker RBI – Blankenship 2, Harlow 8, Clark, Richardson, Dolby.

2B – Fields, Raetz, Martinez, Blankenship, Harlow, Brown, Barr, Richardson. HR – Harlow 2, Richardson.