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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 19, 2022</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader with McNeese State</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Bears backed in game two by Binford’s one-hitter<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Katy Gilmore, 254-252-2182, </span><a href="mailto:katy_gilmore@baylor.edu" title="mailto:katy_gilmore@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">katy_gilmore@baylor.edu</span></a><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"> </span></u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">THE RUNDOWN</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">WACO, Texas – </span></b><span style="color:black">Baylor softball split its Saturday doubleheader with McNeese State, falling, 5-4, in game one before bouncing back and shutting out the Cowgirls, 3-0, in game
two at Getterman Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Game 1: McNeese State 5, Baylor 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The Bears jumped out to an early lead in game one, plating all four runs of the game in the bottom of the first.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">After the Cowgirls scored an early run to take the 1-0 lead, Taylor Strain roped a one-out double to right field before Kaci West singled to left field, putting two on for Aliyah Binford. A double from Binford
and a single from designated player, Josie Bower, brought home Strain and West. Ana Watson then reached on an error, bringing home Binford from third. After a McNeese State pitching change, Zadie LaValley singled up the middle to bring home Bower for the fourth
run of the inning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Starting pitcher Kaci West held the Cowgirls scoreless for three-straight innings before they plated four runs in the fifth on a combination of errors and timely hits to go up 5-4.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">After both teams went down in order in the sixth, reliever Binford struck out the side to start the seventh. Baylor had runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh threatening, but the Bears couldn’t
plate any more runs as they lost the opener by one run.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Game 2: Baylor 3, McNeese State 0<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The Bears, backed almost entirely by Binford in game two, picked up their sixth shutout of the season.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Binford, who pitched a complete game in the nightcap of the doubleheader, picked up where she left off last game by striking out one in a 1-2-3 top of the first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Giving the Bears an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, Binford blasted her first home run of the season over the wall in left center, after McKenzie Wilson’s leadoff walk.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Binford retired the first nine batters in order before issuing a two-out walk in the fourth inning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The Bears got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, when Binford doubled and scored on Ana Watson’s single up the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">McNeese broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the seventh, but she retired the next three batters to complete the one-hit shutout. Binford recorded the program’s 37<sup>th</sup> one-hitter, striking out
11, and also came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">HIGHLIGHTS <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Seven starters from game one recorded a hit<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Binford pitched a complete-game one-hitter, the 37<sup>th</sup> in Baylor history and first since Feb. 21, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Binford recorded her first home run of the year, going 4-for-6 on the day<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The Bears pick up their sixth shutout of the season<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Strain recorded her fourth double of the season<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Bower extended her on-base streak to eight games<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">TOP QUOTES</span></b><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:black">Glenn Moore<span style="background:white"> on the game…</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“I told the team it is always disappointing when you lose, and I hope it always is but out of respect for the game, you have got to understand these teams have great players too and they expect to win just as much
as you expect to win. To come out of here with a series win after going through some adversity, I am very happy with the way the kids competed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:black">Aliyah Binford<span style="background:white"> on her performance…</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“I just wanted to get the three outs and come celebrate with my team. They team just had my back, they know I have been struggling with hitting and I was down on myself but they were always there backing me up
every pitch, and it is just an amazing atmosphere when you’re on the field and know people have you through and through.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="color:black">- BaylorBears.com - </span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#154734">Katy Gilmore</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> | Associate Director of Athletic Communications</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;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="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">O: 254-710-2743 | C: 254-252-2182</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/" title="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D83BC3.3E2010E0" alt="cidimage002.png@01D79F3C.9D2300D0"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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