Park University's softball program had a tough set of games in Heart of America Athletic Conference play with (RV) Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. on Wednesday. The Wildcats earn the sweep after shutting out the Pirates in consecutive games.  

The Pirates are now 12-12 on the year with a 2-6 Heart record, while Baker is 22-8 and 7-3 in the conference. The Pirates have lost two in a row after their last win against Graceland on Saturday, while the Wildcats move to a three-game win-streak.

GAME 1 | L, 0-4 | Box Score

The Pirates gave Baker a scare in the top of the first with the bases loaded with one out. The Pirates' Caroline Riffer reached on an error and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Halle Magee. The Wildcats had the 2023 Heart Freshman of the Year and an NAIA First Team All-American in the circle, Kira Baker. Baker walked Kal Day and Shelby Sanders to load the bases, but then she got out of trouble with two strikeouts.

Abbie Farmer was in the circle for the Pirates, who worked around a leadoff hit and sacrifice bunt to move the runner up to second by working two consecutive ground outs.

In the bottom of the second, the Wildcats scored two runs on two RBI singles and an error.

Farmer threw another two scoreless innings after that, but the Wildcats struck again in the bottom of the fifth with another two runs on four hits. Nia Muniz took over for Farmer with one out. Muniz allowed two singles to load the bases, but then came up big with two strikeouts to close out the inning.

No runs would score for the Pirates in the 4-0 loss.

Farmer would only allow one walk and three earned runs in her outing, while Muniz in 1.2 innings pitched had two strikeouts and did not allow a run.

Riffer had two of the three hits by Park in game one.

GAME 2 | L, 0-9 | Box Score

Like game one, Lauren Fiene, the game two starter, got out of a leadoff walk and retired the next three Wildcats to get out of the inning.

Also like the first game though, Baker would get two runs across in the bottom of the second. Baker had four hits in the inning to get to the lead first, 2-0.

The next inning, the Wildcats put the game out of reach with a seven run inning on five hits and one error. Three of the runs came with two outs.

Fiene's day was done after 2.2 innings and an uncharacteristic five walks were charged two her along with six hits. Muniz relieved for the second straight game, but this time four hits allowed two earned runs for the sophomore.

The Pirates were unable to score in game two and had one more hit than game one. Four different Pirates had singles, including Riffer, Magee, Day, and Chloe Gilbert.

The Pirates will look to rebound against MidAmerica Nazarene University on Friday at 2pm and 4pm in Olathe, Kan. WATCH