Grenadiers Fall To No. 7 Baker University 3-0 In NAIA Opening Round

BALDWIN CITY, KANSAS – The IU Southeast softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 7-ranked Baker University (Kansas) in the first game of the 2023 NAIA Softball Opening Round on Monday.

IU Southeast was no-hit by starter Kira Baker who retired the first 14 batters she faced until she hit Brynlea Bennett in the fifth inning with two outs.

IU Southeast starter Madison Wathen worked out a jam in the bottom of the first when Mary Grace Hess singled and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches. But Wathen got a strikeout and foulout to end the inning.

Pinch runner Alaina Winzeler was caught stealing to end the inning.

Baker got on the board in the fourth inning when Makayla Akin doubled just inside the left-field line and Savannah Bray followed with a two-run home run to center.

In the sixth, after a couple of close pitches were called balls, Akin hit a solo home run to center to extend the lead to 3-0.

Madison Wathen went toe-to-toe with Kira Baker as the Wildcats capitalized on a missed location in the fourth inning and a couple of close pitches that extended an at-bat in the sixth.

Wathen worked six innings and allowed three runs on four hits. She walked three and struck out four.

Kira Baker allowed just one baserunner on the hit by pitch and struck out 10 in the win.

Makayla Akin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI.

IU Southeast will take on Valley City State Tuesday at 3:30 ET in an elimination game.