photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora center fielder Lexi Born hits into the gap in a 7-0 win over Baldwin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.

Baldwin City — Eudora softball solidified its spot at the top of the 4A East with a 7-0 win over Baldwin in a matchup between the two top teams in the region on Tuesday.

The Cardinals improved to 14-0, while the Bulldogs fell to 8-2.

Eudora took the early lead in the first inning, with Katie Courter getting a leadoff single with a bunt. She stole second, advanced to third on an error on the throwout and scored the opening run on a flyout from Reese Pattison after tagging up. The Bulldogs got the next two outs in the outfield to get off the field.

Eudora’s Sam Claire stood out on the mound, starting with three strikeouts in the first inning. The Bulldogs got a walk with Kaitlin Base after the second strikeout, but Claire threw the final out in the next at-bat.

Baldwin pitcher Ava Regalado threw her first strikeout in the second inning as the Cardinals managed to only get Leslie Cundiff on base with a walk. Claire threw two more strikeouts in the second to keep the Bulldogs scoreless.

Regalado finished with three strikeouts and three walks against 13 hits. Eudora coach Bill Finucane said the Cardinals struggled initially to adjust to Regalado’s pitching.

“They were putting the bat on the ball, but they were a little bit under it,” Finucane said. “Sometimes that comes from trying too hard, so they adjusted. Finally, we had some hits fall in to get some runs.”

Claire’s pitching with the Cardinals was as important as ever, with the game being close for the first four innings. With momentum on the cusp for either team, the Cardinals needed Claire to stay strong on the mound and prevent the Bulldogs from getting some life on offense. Claire finished with 19 strikeouts against three walks and two hits. Only two outs for the Cardinals weren’t from Claire.

“You could tell at times when she bared down, she was right on the mark — it’s tough to hit her like that,” Finucane said. “She did a good job.”

Claire’s pitching helped a lot once the Cardinals started stringing hits together. The team has good chemistry and trusts that Claire can hold up her end if the offense is off to a slow start, and the batters can take the pressure off Claire by building a solid lead.

“It’s really nice to know we can get away with not hitting amazing, out-of-the-park like we normally do because we can rely on (Claire) to get us a bunch of Ks,” Pattison said. “It helps keep everyone loose.”

The Cardinals put together a few hits in the top of the third, with Lexi Born hitting a single with one out and Pattison hitting a second in the next at-bat. Two quick outs kept the Cardinals from bringing either runner home. Claire threw another three strikeouts with a walk in the bottom of the third.

Eudora brought in a second run in the top of the fourth. Lori Brooks started with a single, and Cundiff walked in the next at-bat. Cundiff reached second on a fielder’s choice that put Brooks out and ran to third on a wild pitch the next at-bat. She scored with a lineout after tagging up. Courter had another single, but the inning ended with an infield popout.

Claire threw her ninth, 10th and 11th strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth as the Bulldogs couldn’t put anyone on base.

The Cardinals got some breathing room in the top of the fifth with three runs. Pattison, Jaiden Burris and Claire all started with singles, the latter bringing home two runners. After a flyout, the Cardinals got two runners on base, which led to a run on a fielder’s choice. A groundout to shortstop Macie Gilges ended the Cardinals’ run.

Baldwin got its first hit in the first at-bat of the bottom of the fifth from Kristen Manbeck, but three strikeouts in the next at-bats kept the Bulldogs from bringing in a run.

Born singled as the leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth, which set up a two-run home run from Burris, bringing in Eudora’s seventh run. The Bulldogs closed the top of the frame with a strikeout and a groundout.

Rylee Bentley tripled as the Bulldogs’ leadoff hitter in the bottom of the sixth, but Claire threw another two strikeouts to close the inning and hold the Bulldogs scoreless. The Cardinals hit two singles in the seventh before the third out, and the Cardinals ended the game with no hits and two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.

It was a good win for the Cardinals, but the team is hoping for faster starts on offense going forward.

“I feel like we were lights out on defense — the only thing we could’ve done better is hitting the ball,” Pattison said. “Getting a few more runs to help out and save Sam’s arm a little more would’ve been good.”

Eudora did finish with 13 hits, and everyone in the lineup had at least one. Courter, Born, Pattison and Burris all had two, and Burris, Claire and Maddy Arnold led the team with two RBI.

Both teams have a busy schedule this week. Eudora plays two games on the road against Wellsville on Thursday before playing at Olathe North on Friday, and Baldwin hosts Paola for a Thursday doubleheader before hosting Rock Creek on Friday.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Baldwin pitcher Ava Regalado throws a pitch in a 7-0 loss to Eudora on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora Lori Brooks first baseman swings at a pitch in a 7-0 win over Baldwin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora shortstop Katie Courter looks at a runner on first base in a 7-0 win over Baldwin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Baldwin right fielder Kristen Manbeck hits a single in a 7-0 loss to Eudora on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora pitcher Sam Claire throws a pitch in a 7-0 win over Baldwin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Baldwin City.