Talbott's three homers help Baker win

Confidence.

That is the word Baker softball coach Al McCauley has been trying to instill in his players all season.

“That’s the word I stress to the girls — confidence,” he said.

The Bulldogs needed all the confidence they could muster Saturday, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to defeat Elgin/Imbler 12-11 in 10 innings in a non-league game at the Baker Sports Complex.

Andrea Wilson’s double down the left-field line drove home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Tara Talbott accounted for the bulk of Baker’s runs, slugging three home runs and driving in six runs.

“They were all on fast balls,” Talbott said of her long balls. “Coming back in the game will help build our confidence. Particularly with all the younger girls we have on the team.”

Talbott, who had been slumping earlier in the season, said her confidence is coming back at the plate.

“Now I just pretty much go up there thinking I can get a hit,” she said. “I go up there thinking I really want it.”

Baker trailed 11-8 with two outs and two on in the bottom of the eighth inning when Talbott approached the plate. She already had two homers on the day.

“I was really thinking about it that time,” Talbott said. “I usually don’t go up there thinking about hitting a home run. But I did that time.”

Baker trailed 8-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs had managed just one hit off Elgin/Imbler starter Tara Ludwig.

Then Talbott opened the fourth by lining her first homer over the left-centerfield fence. Tori Brown followed with a double. Three Elgin/Imbler errors helped Baker tally four times in the inning to cut the deficit to 8-4.

“Before the fourth inning I was just thinking of trying to manufacture a run so we wouldn’t get 10-runned,” McCauley said.

Talbott and Brown were at it again in the fifth. Talbott laced a one-out double and came around to score on Brown’s single.

Baker added three runs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game 8-8 and send it to extra innings.

In the seventh, Wilson doubled and rode home on Talbott’s second homer. Brown followed with another single, and advanced to second on a single by Jesse Stephens.

Baker actually scored the tying run on a fluke.

McCauley was trying to getting Stephens attention at first base, but apparently tipped off the Elgin/Imbler catcher. So when Stephens broke for second, the visitors made a play on her. Stephens stopped midway to the bag getting in a rundown.

Meanwhile, Brown broke for third. Seeing that Elgin/Imbler was ignoring her, McCauley kept her going to home. Stephens remained in the rundown long enough for Brown to tie the game.

“As soon as I saw Tori was at third I thought ‘go’ and sent her home,” McCauley said.

“The play wasn’t really designed the way it turned out, but it worked anyway. We might have to put it in our bag of tricks,” he said, chuckling.

Elgin/Imbler answered with three runs in the top of the eighth to take an 11-8 lead.

In the bottom of the inning Aubree Shepherd and Savannah Daly drew back-to-back one-out walks. Then, after Wilson flew out to center, Talbott slugged a high drive to center for a three-run homer.

In the 10th, Shepherd led off with a walk, and was sacrificed to second by Daly. Wilson then hit a high drive along the left field line that fell in, scoring Shepherd.

Talbott finished with four hits and six RBIs. Wilson and Brown each added three hits.

Brown drew the start in the circle, throwing 3-plus innings. She allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out four. Mackenzie Srack came on in the fourth and pitched seven innings. She allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out eight in gaining the win.

Ludwig struck out eight and walked five Bulldogs. She gave up a dozen hits.

Baker (3-6) opens Greater Oregon League play Saturday with a doubleheader at Mac-Hi.

Elgin    0    1    2    5    0    0    0    3    0    0    —  11

Baker    0    0    0    4    1    0    3    3    0    1    —  12

Ludwig and Robbins. Brown, Srack (4) and Joseph. WP – Srack. LP – Ludwig.

Elgin/Imbler hits – Campbell 2, Knapp 2, Smith 2, Burgess 2, Ludwig 2, Lease, Robbins 3, Crow. Baker hits – Wilson 3, Talbott 4, Brown 3, Stephens, Johnson.

Elgin/Imbler RBI – Campbell, Smith 2, Burgess 4, Ludwig. Baker RBI – Wilson, Talbott 6, Brown, Joseph.

2B – Wilson 2, Talbott, Brown. HR – Talbott 3.