Baker softball girls split two games

The Bulldogs dropped their season-opener Wednesday at Fruitland, 7-2. Baker then bounced back the following day to edge Weiser 2-0 at Weiser.

Jitters at Fruitland

Baker fell behind 5-0 after one inning at Fruitland and couldn’t get the bats going.

“I think it was a lot of nerves and jitters in that opening game,” said Baker coach Al McCauley. “We had a lot of kids playing in their first varsity game. Some kids were a little tight.”

Mackenzie Srack was Baker’s starting pitcher. She gave up five hits, walked one and struck out two.

“Mackenzie got a few pitches up in the first inning. But after that she settled down. I was pleased minus the first inning,” McCauley said.

Freshman Darryn McCauley threw the final three innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out two.

Baker managed just two hits in the game, singles by Tara Talbott and McCauley. The Bulldogs walked eight times and struck out 10.

“We played pretty well, but just need to get our bats going,” Coach McCauley said. “We had the bases loaded three times but just didn’t get our bats going.”

Baker scored both its runs in the sixth inning. Srack walked and went to second on McCauley’s single. Both runners moved up when Fruitland threw the ball away on the play. Then, with one out, Jesse Stephens struck out, but the ball got away from the catcher. Srack scored when Stephens reached base on the play. Shelby Prowell then grounded out to score McCauley.

Bats still quiet

Baker’s bats continued to be silent against Weiser. The Bulldogs managed just three hits — doubles by McCauley and Andrea Wilson, and a single by Ashley Vela.

McCauley started in the circle, pitching four innings. She didn’t give up a hit, walked one and struck out seven. Srack came on in the fifth. She allowed two hits and struck out six.

“Our pitchers threw pretty well, but our hitting woes continued,” said Coach McCauley.

Baker scored single runs in the second and fourth innings.

In the second, McCauley doubled to left and went to third on a passed ball. Then, with two outs, Vela singled up the middle to score the run.

In the fourth, Stephens walked and went to second on another passed ball. Stephens advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on another ground out by Vela.

Baker (1-1) is now idle until Friday and Saturday when the Bulldogs compete at the ISG tournament in Boise.

Baker also has added a single game against Elgin April 4 at noon at the Sports Complex.

At Fruitland

Baker    0    0    0    0    0    2    0    —    2

Fruitland    5    0    1    0    1    0    x    —    7

Srack, McCauley (4) and Joseph. WP – Hutcherson. LP – Srack.

Baker hits – Talbott, McCauley.

Baker RBI – Prowell.

At Weiser

Baker    0    1    0    1    0    0    0    —    2

Weiser    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    —    0

McCauley, Srack (5) and Joseph. WP – McCauley. LP – Johnson. S – Srack.

Baker hits – McCauley, Vela, Wilson.

Baker RBI – Vela 2.

2B – McCauley, Wilson.