The Culver-Stockton baseball team began Heart of America Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., Friday afternoon.

In the opener, Baker tied the game with two runs in the seventh inning and then plated a run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly to post an 8-7 victory over the Wildcats.

In game two, Baker led 3-2 before scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the sweep with a 6-2 victory.

The two teams are scheduled to conclude the four-game series Sunday, March 12, with another doubleheader. First pitch for game one is slated for 12 p.m.

C-SC trailed 5-2 after five innings in the opening game before exploding for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead.

Jordan Scott and Collin Hall each singled with one out to start the rally in the sixth inning. Jaison Andujar recorded C-SC third straight single to plate one run before Alex Harbin drilled a three-run homer to put the visitors on top 6-5. 

A double by Caden Power and another single by Brandon Aragon completed the Wildcat rally and a two-run lead.

But in the seventh, a single, a hit batter and a balk put the tying run at second base with two outs. A bloop single to right field tied the game for Baker, and then the hosts strung together two singles, an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly in the eight inning to complete the comeback.

In the nightcap, C-SC struck first when Hall doubled home Noble Oxford, who was courtesy running for Andrew Fay.

However, Baker scored single runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 3-1 lead. C-SC cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Power, but Baker plated three runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.