Baylor Softball One-Hits Ole Miss to Take the Opening-Game Win

Fri May 17 19:44:22 CDT 2024

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 17, 2024
Baylor Softball One-Hits Ole Miss to Take the Opening-Game Win
Bears back Binford’s pitching with homers by Hott, Govan
For more information contact: Katy Gilmore, 254-252-2182, katy_gilmore at baylor.edu<mailto:katy_gilmore at baylor.edu>

LAFAYETTE, La. – Baylor Softball won its first game at the Lafayette Regional over No. 3 seed Ole Miss, 3-1, Friday afternoon at Lamson Park.

This marked the Bears’ first opening-game win in a regional since Gia Rodoni pitched a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Kent State in the Waco Regional in 2017.

THE RUNDOWN
The Rebels drew a leadoff walk before a one-out fielder’s choice had runners on first and second to threaten early. Baylor was able to make quick work, diminishing the threat with a fly out and inning-ending strikeout, to keep the Rebs of the board.

Emily Hott started the Bears off with a bang when she hit a leadoff homer to start the bottom of the first inning.

Baylor only allowed one baserunner over the next three innings as the Bears continued to hold Ole Miss scoreless.

The Bears added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Presleigh Pilon singled to put a runner on for Shaylon Govan, who launched her ninth home run of the season over the wall in right-center field. With the 3-0 lead, Sydney Collazos drew a walk later in the inning but didn’t come home.

Ole Miss got a run back in the top of the fifth inning when Delaney Rummell hit a solo shot to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

Taylor Strain made the play of the game in the top of the sixth inning when she robbed an Ole Miss home run by reaching over the wall in left-center field to bring the ball back into play and keep the run off the board.

After allowing the single home run in the fifth inning, starting pitcher Aliyah Binford and the Baylor defense retired the next nine batters to hold off the Rebels and give Baylor the 3-1 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS

  *   All three Baylor runs were scored off home runs
  *   Shaylon Govan and Emily Hott each hit their ninth home runs of the season
  *   Govan now totals 30 RBIs on the season
  *   Aliyah Binford threw her 11th complete game of the season and brought her strikeout tally on the season to 146
  *   Binford only gave up one hit in the game, her second one-hit game of the season
  *   The Bears are now 34-15 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Glenn Moore on the game …
“I'm just now looking at the box score to see where everybody is, but I just got to applaud Aliyah for another outstanding performance. Really got her game together here at the right time toward the end of the season as her body has healed up. We played some good defense, especially Presleigh at shortstop, behind her. I thought we did a good job of taking away their short game. That was our plan, corners did a great job of that. Not a lot of offense either way. I applaud their pitchers for keeping us off-balance, just like Aliyah kept their hitters off. We got big hits. Emily starting the game with a home run made a statement and then, of course, the big two-run home run by Shay. A good start for us. A lot of work to do still, but a good start.”

Aliyah Binford on retiring the last nine batters …
“The home run, it was a well-hit ball, but I knew my team had my back. So just going out there knowing that I can give up hits and my team's going be there behind me. It's what kept me going throughout the whole game.”

Shaylon Govan making an adjustment after her first at-bat …
“She has a pretty good down ball. And so, we've seen a bunch of good down-ball pitchers. So, my plan was just kind of get up in the box and take that away. The first time, it didn't really work out that way. But I just tried to make the adjustment, talking to a Coach Hoot (Johnigan), and our team, so I just made that adjustment.”

Taylor Strain robbing the home run …
“It did feel good. I think it was a huge momentum shift as well. Aliyah was pitching, and did pitch, an amazing game. I just love doing things for my teammates, I love all of them. So yeah, being able to back them up like that is awesome.”

UP NEXT
The Bears will face No. 13 overall seed Louisiana in game three of the Lafayette Regional Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. CT at Lamson Park.

-BaylorBears.com-

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Katy Gilmore | Associate Director of Athletic Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-2743 | C: 254-252-2182

[cidimage002.png at 01D79F3C.9D2300D0]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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