Binford, Govan Help Push Baylor Softball past Ole Miss in Lafayette Regional Opener, 3-1

LAFAYETTE, LA. – After Ole Miss (31-26) ended Baylor softball’s season last May in the Salt Lake City Regional, the Bears (33-20) got their revenge over the Rebels with a 3-1 victory to open the Lafayette Regional Friday afternoon at Lamson Park.

A pair of home runs from left fielder Emily Hott (Sr.) and designated player Shaylon Govan (Jr.) helped push Baylor past Ole Miss at the plate. In the circle, Aliyah Binford (Jr.) earned the victory, tossing a complete-game, one-hit gem. Binford fanned four Rebels while allowing just three base runners in the contest.

Baylor Athletics

In the 3-1 victory, Aliyah Binford (Jr.) tossed a complete-game, one-hit gem.

To lead off the bottom of the first inning, Hott smoked a long ball over the right-center field wall to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead; it was her ninth homer of the season.

In the fourth, Govan extended Baylor’s lead, 3-0, after crushing a pitch left over the middle of the plate to straightaway center for a two-run homer.

The First-Team All-Big 12 performer leads the Bears in RBIs (30) and is tied for the team lead in long balls (9). In Baylor’s final regular season series against Houston, Govan had been intentionally walked seven consecutive times.

Ole Miss’ lone hit off Binford was a solo shot in the fifth from third baseman Delaney Rummell (Sr.). Three of the four combined hits between both teams in Saturday’s contest were home runs.

With the Rebels running out of time late in the ballgame, slugging first baseman Paige Smith (Sr.) lined a deep shot before Baylor’s center fielder, Taylor Strain (Sr.), made a spectacular leaping grab against the wall to rob Ole Miss of a home run.

Final: Baylor 3, Ole Miss 1

W: Aliyah Binford (13-10) L: Grace Spakrs (9-3)

POTG: Aliyah Binford (7 IP, ER, R H, 4 K, 2 BB, 25 BF, 94 pitches)

WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor softball (33-20) will move into the winner’s side of the bracket and face No. 13 Louisiana (43-17) Saturday at 2 p.m. at Lamson Park.