Baylor Softball Falters with Second-Inning Nightmare in Run-Rule Loss to No. 2 Texas
On the heels of a 10-2 loss to Texas on Friday, the Baylor softball team was hoping for a more inspired effort against the No. 2 team in the country on Saturday night.
Despite giving up runs in just two innings, a nine-run second doomed the Bears as they fell to the Longhorns, 11-0 in five innings at Getterman Stadium.
“Disappointment in the way we responded from yesterday's and yesterday was disappointing, but what I was really challenging yesterday with was to respond in a more competitive fashion today, and disappointed in that, but making sure they understood that we stepped out of conference to play what could be the best team in the country right now, perspective and make sure that doesn't affect us moving forward in a negative way,” Moore said.
Baylor (20-9) Sophomore Peyton Tanner got the start in the circle, but delivered just three outs before being relieved. She stranded the bases loaded in the first, but Texas capitalized in the following frame.
Texas’ (28-1) big inning included three hits that resulted in multiple RBIs, two of those hits being doubles. The Longhorns got those nine runs on six hits and three walks, while still leaving a pair of runners on base.
Tanner was relieved after giving up four earned runs before recording an out in the second and Cambree Creager came in and conceded four more before getting out of the frame with a loud flyball that was run down by center fielder Brooklyn Carter.
“We're not going to throw that high velocity, but we've got to be more efficient,” Moore said. “I didn't think we matched it well enough.”
Texas pitcher Teagan Tovan was in control all night, going all five innings, striking out 10 and hitting a pair of batters.
The Bears picked up just two hits on the night, a double from Amber Tovan in the first inning and a bloop single from Kaci West in the fourth.
In the three innings, Baylor did not get a hit; they had just two runners on base, a pair of hit-by-pitches in the fourth to Tovan and Abi Flores.
Lexie Warncke was a bright spot for the Bears as the third pitcher to come in. She quieted the Longhorn bats as she threw 2.2 scoreless innings before a 2-run inside-the-park home run put Texas in run-rule territory to take an 11-0 lead.
“Lexie kind of stabilized things a little bit, and I was very happy with her,” Moore said. “Lexie's got some really good stuff, and when she's in the zone, she can be very effective, as we saw, against a good lineup, because they didn't make subs until she had been through the lineup one time, and I thought she gave us a chance.”
Baylor's left fielder and center fielder went for the ball and collided, allowing UT's Kaydee Bennett to round the bases and score without a throw.
Warncke did finish the final three innings, fanning three UT bats and conceding two hits.
“We really needed somebody to come in and stabilize and give us a chance to get a run or two and extend the ball game,” Moore said. “That didn't happen, but she gave us a chance.”
The Bears will jump back into midweek nonconference play with UT Arlington at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Getterman Stadium.
“I would like to think [this game] grew us up a little bit, and I know I'm beating the dead horse about how young we are, because we’ve played well enough against good competition to expect better than that,” Moore said.
