A strikeout would have been a simpler way for Trevor Bennett to end the game.

But perhaps not quite as exciting.

The Baker pitcher got the final out in a 4-2 win over Cascade Saturday not from the mound, but while standing on first base.

Bennett took a toss from first baseman Mason Dowdy, who fielded a ground ball between first and second, and the Bulldogs had a hard-fought win in a game at the Baker Sports Complex that Bulldog coach Tim Smith described as a “playoff atmosphere.”

“These are the types of games we need against a good 4A opponent,” Smith said. “They’re (Cascade) going to win a lot of games, and we’re going to have the chance to win a lot of games.”

The Dowdy-to-Bennett final out came with the bases loaded and Cascade needing only a single to probably tie the game.

An extra-base hit might have given the Cougars the lead.

Instead Bennett induced the game-winning groundout.

“It wasn’t a routine play,” Smith said.

It was appropriate, though, that Baker’s defensive prowess stopped Cascade’s would-be rally.

Baker, which improved its season record to 4-3, committed two errors.

Cascade had six errors.

The Cougars’ multiple miscues help to explain how Baker won despite having six hits to Cascade’s 10.

“They had some errors and we capitalized on that,” Smith said. “We got hits, and our hits followed their errors.”

Baker scored all four of its runs in the second inning – and all came with two outs.

Rabb Bowers sandwiched a single between two Baker strikeouts.

Bryson Smith doubled to drive home Bowers for Baker’s first run.

A Cascade error led to Baker’s next two runs.

Bennett allowed 10 hits but Cascade scored in only one inning, plating a pair of runs in the third.

Baker plays host to Nyssa on Tuesday at 3 p.m., then travels to Homedale, Idaho, Wednesday for a 4 p.m. PDT game.

Cascade 0020000 -2

Baker 040000x- 4

Bennett and Dixon, Plumley (6).WP -Bennett.

Baker hits -Smith 2, Zemmer, Dixon, Bowers 2, Custer.Baker RBI -Smith.

2B -Smith, Bowers.