No. 13 Baylor Softball Sweeps Lamar in Midweek Doubleheader

WACO, Texas – No. 13 Baylor Softball completed the doubleheader sweep over Lamar, taking down the Cardinals 5-1 in game one and 6-1 in game two, Tuesday evening at Getterman Stadium.

THE RUNDOWN

Baylor started off strong in game one, retiring the Cardinals in order in the top of the first. The Bears didn't get on the board in the bottom half of the inning, but Shaylon Govan hit a double down the right-field line to put herself in scoring position.

After allowing a single in the top of the second, Ana Watson walked and stole second before Abi Flores was also issued a walk to put two runners on for Zadie LaValley. The catcher then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out, but back-to-back pop-ups ended the threat.

BU got the bats going in the bottom of the third, as they plated four runs on five hits. Taylor Strain kicked things off with a double down the left-field line before Emily Hott singled to the pitcher to put two on and advance Strain to third. Govan then recorded her second hit of the day, a single up the middle to plate a run.

With one run already home, Sydney Collazos laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, before a groundout made it a 2-0 ballgame. Flores then singled down the left-field line to score pinch-runner Caroline Rowatt to put the Bears up by three runs. LaValley brought home the last run of the third inning, after hitting a double but was thrown out trying to take third base.

The Bears tacked on another run in the fifth inning after Leah Cran reached on an error and Kaci West reached on a fielder's choice to put one on. With Presleigh Pilon on second after stealing the bag, Strain singled up the middle to score the runner from second and put the Bears up 5-0.

After back-to-back scoreless frames for both sides, Lamar was able to plate a run in the top of the seventh, but the Bears held off the late attack to defeat the Cardinals, 5-1.

Lamar started off game two with a couple of runners reaching but starting pitcher Lexie Warncke and the Baylor defense were able to keep the Cardinals at bay.

The Bears fought back quickly as they plated three runs in the bottom of the first innings. To get things started, Strain walked before back-to-back singles from Hott and Govan loaded the bases. Shannon Vivoda, in her first at-bat of the day, singled to right field plating two and giving Baylor the 2-0 lead.

After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Aliyah Binford singled to left-center advancing to second on the throw and bringing home the Bears' third run of the inning.

Baylor continued the scoring in the second inning after Strain reached on an error with two outs and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. With a runner at third, Hott doubled off the center-field wall to score a run, before Govan followed with a single to plate Hott from second.

With the 5-0 lead, Lamar scored a lone run in the top of the third, but catcher Ellington Whitaker threw out a runner trying to steal second to get out of the inning.

After a quiet third and fourth innings for the Bears, Govan singled to lead off the fifth inning, before Vivoda walked, and pinch-runner Rowatt advanced to third on a fly out to center field. West brought Rowatt home when she singled through the left side to give the Bears the 6-1 advantage.

RyLee Crandall entered to pitch for BU in the sixth inning and effectively struck out four while retiring six straight batters to end the game.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shaylon Govan went 5-for-6 at the plate with a double and two RBIs
• Emily Hott went 4-for-7 on the day with a double and an RBI
• Four different Bears recorded a double
• Lexie Warncke picked up her second start and second win in the circle
• RyLee Crandall pitched 2.0 innings in relief, striking out four
• Nine different Bears recorded an RBI on the day with Govan and Vivoda each recording two
• The Bears totaled 19 hits for both games, off the bats of 10 different Bears
• Kaci West improves to 2-1 on the season pitching 6.2 scoreless innings, only allowing three hits and striking out two
• The Bears only struck out three times during the doubleheader
• Govan, Hott, and Taylor Strain all had multi-hit games
• BU improves to 16-5 on the season
• Baylor remains undefeated against Lamar, moving to a perfect 18-0 all-time

QUOTABLE

Shaylon Govan on tonight's wins …

"The mood is just to keep our confidence up. Just keep working hard and keep taking it day by day. So, I feel like that's just our mindset going into these games [and] into this weekend."

Kaci West on the pitching …

"I think we're all a team in The Forge and so just everybody being ready to get out there when their number gets called, getting out there and doing their jobs. I think we're all a team in there, ready to go."

Head Coach Glenn Moore on the game …

"Yeah, I think it was important to get to use your bullpen a little bit, knock some rust off. And you never know what to expect when pitchers haven't thrown — I mean, when you're in the prime of your season, you want to keep your 1 and 2 (options) well-oiled but also rested. So, to be able to come in and get two wins with Kaci (West) and Lexi (Warncke) was very important. They pitched well. Considering the fact they haven't been out there a ton — Kaci has, and that showed, I think. But it was good work for Kaci. I thought the fact that we saw a lot of short games, small ball stuff, a lot of speed, (that) was important. We haven't seen a ton of that really since Louisiana, so I thought to see that, that really prepared us for part of the game that we're going to see in the next few weeks."

UP NEXT

The Bears will continue with Big 12 play next, heading to Lawrence, Kan., to face the Jayhawks March 15-17.