Baylor Softball Drops Super Regional Opener to No. 4 Florida, 4-2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Baylor softball (35-22) dropped its Super Regional opener to No. 4 Florida (50-12), 4-2, Friday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Despite the loss, Aliyah Binford (Jr.) kept the Bears in the contest with a great effort both in the circle and at the plate. Binford held a formidable Gators lineup to five hits and four runs and carried the Bears' batting order, totaling three of the team’s six base knocks.
To open the ballgame, left fielder Emily Hott (Sr.) drew a four-pitch leadoff walk, and first baseman Shaylon Govan (Jr.) smoked a single to shortstop to put runners on the corners with one out. The following at-bat, Binford lined an RBI single into right field to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Gators responded with a three-spot off Binford, highlighted by RBI doubles from catcher Jocelyn Erickson (So.) and right fielder Katie Kistler (Sr.).
Now at the plate in the third, Binford cut into UF’s lead, 3-2, with a solo shot to left field. The home run was Binford’s third of the season and second in her last four games.
The Gators tacked on an insurance run with a solo homer from left fielder Korbe Otis (Jr.) in the fifth. Three of Florida’s five hits on Friday were for extra bases.
With the Bears running out of opportunities late, Binford collected her third hit of the afternoon with a single into center field. With two outs and a runner at first base in the sixth, third baseman Sydney Collazos (Sr.), who had two hits of her own, skied a fly out to the left field warning track.
Final: No. 4 Florida 4, Baylor 2
W: Keagan Rothrock (29-6) L: Aliyah Binford (13-12)
POTG: Aliyah Binford (6 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 28 BF, 108 pitches – 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R)
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor softball (35-22) will face elimination against No. 4 Florida (50-12) at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. If the Bears were to win, they’d force a Game Three on Sunday.