Baker University softball took an early lead and a 5-1 win against Friends University in its third game of the NAIA Tournament opening rounds.

Senior Savannah Bray got the scoring started for the Wildcats on a single from Ava Greiner. Meghan Kelly and Braxton Stainbrook both scored in the second inning for a 3-0 lead. Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings and each got a run in the fifth — Rachel Pederson for the Wildcats and Jayden Estabrook for the Falcons. After a scoreless sixth, Bray found home plate again on a single from Madi Ball, and the Falcons couldn’t make up the difference.

Friends was eliminated in the loss. Baker is scheduled to play Northwestern Iowa for the second time in the tournament today at noon. Northwestern Iowa defeated Baker 3-2 on Monday, knocking the Wildcats into the consolation bracket.