Baylor SB Sweeps Day One of Louisiana Tech Invitational

[Pirtle, Krista]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 6, 2021

SB Sweeps Day One of Louisiana Tech Invitational
Solid pitching, defense fuel pair of wins on Saturday
Media link: http://baylorbea.rs/BaylorSoftball
For more information contact: Krista Pirtle, 254-447-8610, Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu<mailto:Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu>

THE RUNDOWN
RUSTON, La. – Baylor picked up a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field in Ruston, La., as the Lady Bears topped Tarleton State, 5-1, before taking down the home team, 3-1.

GAME 1 – BAYLOR 5, TARLETON STATE 1
Aliyah Binford had herself a day at the plate as she went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, an RBI and a run scored.

The second-year freshman led things off in the top of the second with a walk and later advanced to third when Emily Hott reached base safely off a Tarleton State error. Binford scored soon after when the Tarleton State attention was turned toward Hott trying to steal second.

Three batters later, after a walk by Sydney Collazos and a single by Maddison Kettler put runners on the corners, Nicky Dawson reached on a fielding error that allowed Collazos to score.

The Lady Bears added to their lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Goose McGlaun stepped to the plate with runners on first and second as Dawson and Lou Gilbert each walked. McGlaun laid down the swinging bunt, and Dawson scored all the way from second base. Gilbert scored a batter later when Josie Bower singled down the left field line.

Baylor added another in the sixth when Binford singled to right field to score McGlaun who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Sidney Holman-Mansell picked up the win for the Lady Bears as the junior held Tarleton State scoreless off one hit with four strikeouts through four innings of work. Binford came on in the fifth inning and gave up an unearned run off two hits with two strikeouts through three innings to get the save.

GAME 2 – BAYLOR 3, LOUISIANA TECH 1
Gia Rodoni went to work in the circle to pick up her second-straight win of the season as the Lady Bears held off the home team for their second win of the day. The sixth-year senior finished with nine strikeouts, a season high.

It looked as if the Lady Techsters would break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth when they put a runner on second with no outs. However, the Baylor defense stepped up and recorded three-straight outs – strikeout, sacrifice bunt and a foul out to left field – to get out of the inning unscathed.

That proved to be the momentum the Lady Bears needed as they went off offensively in the fifth.  Emily Hott got the party started as she got plunked to put a runner on with one out for BU. Hott then advanced to third off a single to center field by Taylor Ellis.

Freshman catcher Zadie LaValley put Baylor on the board with an RBI single through the right side to score Hott before Ana Watson stepped to the plate and emptied the bases with a double down the left field line.

Again, Louisiana Tech threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Aliyah Binford fielded a grounder at shortstop and threw the runner out at home for out No. 2 of the inning before a groundout to Rodoni ended the inning.

LA Tech would plate a run in the sixth inning, but that was it.

HIGHLIGHTS

  *   With a stolen base in each game, Nicky Dawson is now 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts this season.
  *   Josie Bower hit her fifth double of the season against Tarleton State. She’s now got 13 in her career.
  *   Bower went 2-for-4 at the plate vs. Tarleton State, her fifth multi-hit game of the season and seventh of her career.
  *   Aliyah Binford went 2-for-2 at the plate vs. Tarleton State, her third multi-hit game of the season and eighth of her career.
  *   Sidney Holman-Mansell moves to 3-0 on the season in the circle.
  *   Gia Rodoni recorded a season-high nine strikeouts vs. Louisiana Tech.
  *   Goose McGlaun now has a hit in seven-straight games.
  *   Ana Watson went 2-for-3 at the plate vs. Louisiana Tech with two RBI. It marked her third multi-RBI game of the year.

STAT OF THE DAY
17 – Number of strikeouts by the Baylor pitching staff of Sidney Holman-Mansell, Aliyah Binford and Gia Rodoni.

TOP QUOTES
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore on the day…
“Today we had two hard-fought victories. We were challenged in different ways and still found ways to win. Each time you face these challenges and figure out how to win you grow stronger. Good defense and pitching were the constants that led to our success today.”

UP NEXT
The Lady Bears close out the Louisiana Tech Invitational against the Lady Techsters (11 a.m.) and Tarleton State (1:30 p.m.) on Sunday.


www.BaylorBears.com

Krista Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3065 | C: 254-447-8610

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