<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Courier;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Impact;
panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
h1
{mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:justify;
page-break-after:avoid;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-weight:normal;
text-decoration:underline;}
h2
{mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:center;
page-break-after:avoid;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:italic;}
p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText
{mso-style-link:"Body Text Char";
margin:0in;
text-align:justify;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Courier;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Courier;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Courier;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
mso-add-space:auto;
layout-grid-mode:char;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Courier;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;
font-style:italic;}
span.BodyTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Char";
mso-style-link:"Body Text";
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:383524526;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1240133656 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 26, 2021<sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">SB Opens Big 12 Play with 5-2 Win at Texas Tech<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<h2 align="left" style="text-align:left"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-style:normal">Gia Rodoni picks up career strikeout No. 600<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Media link:
</span></b><a href="http://baylorbea.rs/BaylorSoftball" title="http://baylorbea.rs/BaylorSoftball"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">http://baylorbea.rs/BaylorSoftball</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Krista Pirtle, 254-447-8610,
</span><a href="mailto:Krista_Pirtle@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Krista_Pirtle@baylor.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">THE RUNDOWN</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">LUBBOCK, Texas –</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> Baylor softball defeated Texas Tech, 5-2, Friday night at Rocky Johnson Field to open Big 12 play with a win. It marked the first Big 12 opening
win for BU since the Lady Bears took down Kansas, 6-1, on March 25, 2018, in Lawrence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Texas Tech jumped out to a 1-0 edge off a leadoff solo home run. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the home team until Baylor found a groove in the top of the third.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Josie Bower got things started with a single down the right field line and then advanced to second off a wild pitch to put a runner in scoring position with one out for the Lady Bears. Lou Gilbert followed
that up with a walk and then a single to right field by Maddison Kettler loaded the bases.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Goose McGlaun put BU on the board with a single up the middle to score Bower before Zadie LaValley’s double to left center field gave Baylor the lead for good as two more runs came home. A sacrifice fly by
Aliyah Binford scored McGlaun from home as BU put up a four-spot in the frame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Texas Tech threatened once more in the fifth inning as another solo home run cut Baylor’s lead in half. With a runner on first and two outs, Alyssa Avalos made a catch at the wall to end the Texas Tech scoring
threat in the frame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Baylor got a little insurance in the sixth inning as Binford singled and Emily Hott drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs for the Bears. Bower delivered a big single through the left side to score
Binford. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Bower led the way for BU at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI, her ninth multi-hit game of her career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Gia Rodoni finished the game with six strikeouts and no walks as she gave up two runs off four hits through 4.2 innings of work. In the third inning, the sixth-year senior struck out the side. Her third K
of the inning gave her 600 strikeouts for her career. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Binford came on in relief and held the Red Raiders scoreless off one hit through 2.1 innings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%">HIGHLIGHTS</span></b><sub><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></span></sub></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Zadie LaValley hit her fourth double of the season in the third inning to give Baylor a two-run lead.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">LaValley now has a hit in six-straight games for BU. She moved to the clean-up spot two games ago (March 21 vs. Houston). LaValley also now has five multi-RBI games.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Maddison Kettler has now reached base in 11-straight games.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The win marked Baylor’s first Big 12 dub since taking down Kansas in Lawrence on March 31, 2019.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Baylor is now 12-12 in Big 12 openers.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Gia Rodoni moved to 6-4 on the season in the circle.<br>
<br>
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%">STAT OF THE DAY
<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%">601 – Career strikeouts for Gia Rodoni. In her last three outings, Rodoni has racked up 25 Ks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">TOP QUOTES<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Baylor head coach Glenn Moore on the game…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">“We played a complete game tonight. We kept our focus on the game plan after falling behind. We made disciplined adjustments against two great pitchers. It was a good start to a very tough but exciting Big
12 series. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">As for pitching, Gia (Rodoni) was more of the same and very difficult to hit. It was great to see her reach a milestone with what she’s been through. Aliyah (Binford) did a great job of closing the door once
more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt">UP NEXT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt">The Lady Bears are back for Game 2 against Texas Tech with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday at Rocky Johnson Field in Lubbock.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">www.BaylorBears.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0A5026">Krista Pirtle</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0A5026"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">| Associate Director of Athletics Communications</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">O: 254-710-3065 | C: 254-447-8610</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:3.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="159" height="44" style="width:1.6562in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D72288.4F324470" alt="signature_25474861"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>