Baseball Shut Out in Opener at Baker

Baldwin City, Kan. — Doane baseball threatened throughout Saturday's opener at Baker, but the Tigers were unable to cash in key chances in a 3-0 loss to the Wildcats.

Doane finished with seven hits and put multiple runners on base in several innings, but Baker pitching worked out of repeated trouble to hand the Tigers just their third loss of the season.

Baker scored all three of its runs in the first three innings. The Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the first after Jackson Truman reached and advanced to second on an error before TJ Armstrong followed with a two-run homer to left field for a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats added another run in the third. Zach Miller opened the inning with a single and later scored on Truman's RBI single to shortstop, pushing the advantage to 3-0.

Doane had its opportunities against Baker starter Tyler Vigna and the Wildcat bullpen, but left 10 runners on base in the seven-inning contest.

The Tigers nearly struck first in the top of the first when Grant Sommers doubled to left-center and moved to third on a wild pitch, but Baker escaped the inning without damage. Doane also stranded two runners in the second after singles by Tanner Nelson and Max Harris, and left two more aboard in the third after Sommers and Johnny Vulcano each singled.

Another strong chance came in the fifth when Jett Grossart drew a leadoff walk and Carter Roth followed with a single to put two on with no outs, but Baker again kept Doane off the board. In the sixth, Harris doubled to left-center and advanced to third with one out, though the Tigers were unable to bring him home.

Sommers and Harris led the Doane offense with two hits apiece. Sommers went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, while Harris finished 2-for-3 with a double. Roth, Vulcano and Nelson added one hit each.

Kaden Crawford went the distance for Doane and struck out eight over six innings. He allowed five hits and three runs, only two of which were earned. Crawford also helped erase a Baker threat in the second inning by picking off a runner, while Tanner Nelson threw out another would-be base stealer.

Vigna earned the win for Baker after tossing five shutout innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out four. Anthony Sillas covered the sixth, and Gage Callaghan recorded the save with a scoreless seventh.

Doane moved to 11-3 with the loss, while Baker improved to 9-4.

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