Baker took a giant step toward claiming the Greater Oregon League baseball title Friday.

The Bulldogs (7-3 in the GOL) moved itnto a tie with La Grande for the top spot after sweeping the Tigers 3-2 and 7-0 at La Grande.

“It was some good baseball between a couple of good teams,” said Baker coach Tim Smith.

The sweep, Baker’s first, home or away, against La Grande since 2014, Smith’s first year as Baker coach, also avenged a La Grande sweep of the Bulldogs earlier this season at the Baker Sports Complex.

“The boys rose to the occasion,” Smith said. “But we still have some work to do.”

Baker travels to Ontario Friday and La Grande plays winless Mac-Hi. A Baker sweep would clinch the GOL’s top berth in the Class 4A post-season.

“We could still share the league title, but we own the tie-breaker and would get the higher ranking,” Smith said.

Friday, in Game 1, Sam McCauley struck out 10 Tigers while throwing a two-hitter.

“Sam was pretty dominant,” Smith said.

Conner Lay followed McCauley’s performance with a five-hitter in Game 2.

“Conner had the best outing of his high school career as far as I’m concerned,” Smith said. “He was spot on. He had good command of his pitches.”

Baker hosts Joseph/Enterprise/Wallowa/Elgin in a single nonleague game Tuesday.

First game

Baker 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 — 3

La Grande 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2

McCauley and Van Arsdall. WP — McCauley.

Baker hits — McCauley 2, Lay 2, Shirtcliff, Smith, Rohner, Miller, Braschler. Baker RBI — Lay.

2B — McCauley.

Second game

Baker 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 — 7

La Grande 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0

Lay and Van Arsdall. WP — Lay.

Baker hits — McCauley 2, Van Arsdall, Lay, Rohner. Baker RBI — Van Arsdall 2, Lay, Smith, Rohner.

2B — McCauley, Van Arsdall.