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<a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Feb. 14, 2024</span></b><span style="color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">No. 22 Baylor Softball Prepares for Road Contests at McNeese, Louisiana</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><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;mso-ligatures:none">Bears play at McNeese before traveling to Lafayette for a three-game series</span></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
</span></i><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">For more information contact: </span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Katy Gilmore, 254-252-2182, </span><span style="color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><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></span><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="BasicParagraph" style="border:none;padding:0in"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif">No. 22 BAYLOR</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif">
(0-2) <b>at </b><b>RV MCNEESE </b>(4-1) <b>at </b><b>No. 23 LOUISIANA </b>(4-1)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Thursday, Feb. 15 at McNeese Lake Charles, La.| Cowgirl Diamond Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: ESPN+<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Friday, Feb. 16 at Louisiana Lafayette, La. | Lamson Park Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: ESPN+<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Saturday, Feb. 17 at Louisiana Lafayette, La. | Lamson Park Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: ESPN+<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Sunday, Feb. 18 at Louisiana Lafayette, La. | Lamson Park Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: ESPN+<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase">Story lines</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Baylor Softball is heading on the road for the first time this season, facing McNeese in Lake
Charles, La., on Thursday, Feb. 15, before continuing to Lafayette for a three-game series against Louisiana, Feb. 16-18.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> The Bears opened their season against No. 2 Tennessee, losing a 3-2 heartbreaker in game one
and then falling 9-1 in game two. The series finale was canceled due to weather.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> BU is 28-8 all-time against McNeese, with holding the 6-2 overall record while playing in Lake
Charles. Louisiana holds the 17-13 overall record over the Bears and have the 9-4 lead while playing in Lafayette.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> This is the Bears first trip back to Louisiana since the 2022 season and the first trip back
to Lake Charles since 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> The team comes back to the diamond with a veteran squad that consists of seven seniors and 17
upperclassmen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> After ending the 2023 campaign back in the NCAA postseason, the Bears are looking to build on
last years 40-win season while returning all but one senior, Josie Bower, from the roster.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Baylor added three freshmen to the squad with pitcher
<b>Lexie Warncke</b> and infielders, <b>Paige King</b> and <b>Leah Cran</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Baylor is ranked in all four polls: No. 16 (Softball America), No. 17 (D1Softball), No. 22 (ESPN/USA
Softball) and No. 24 (USA Today/NFCA).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> The Bears will face seven opponents in the month of February who were either ranked or receiving
votes in the preseason ESPN poll for a total of 11 games. Those teams include: No. 2 Tennessee, No. 8 UCLA, No. 13 Oregon, No. 21 Louisiana, RV Missouri, RV McNeese and RV Notre Dame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> The last time the Bears and Cowgirls faced off, BU took the three-game series over McNeese, 2-1,
during the 2022 season. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Baylor last faced the Ragin Cajuns on April 11, 2023, when the Bears won 2-1 in Waco.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Baylor fell 0-2 against No. 2 Tennessee during opening weekend as the Bears battled in game one
with pitcher <b>RyLee Crandall</b> taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Lady Vols had back-to-back two-out hits to plate a run and cut Baylors 2-0 lead in half.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"><b> Emily Hott</b> went 3-for-6 in the box during opening weekend, with a double and the Bears
first home run of the season. Her 1.167 slugging percentage led the Bears, as she also scored two runs and had two RBIs.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Leading the Bears last season,
<b>Shaylon Govan</b> returns for BU after being named the 11th All-American in Baylor history last season. The junior hit .369 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. She set single-season Baylor records in walks (47) and sacrifice flies (7).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif">
<b>Govan</b> was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team as a unanimous decision. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Senior pitcher
<b>Dariana Orme</b> was named to the USA Softball Top 50 Player of the Year Watch List for the season. She led the Bears in the circle last season with 1.92 ERA and 126 strikeouts.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> The Bears middle infield turned 31 double plays during the 2023 season, which set a new single-season
team record. The 2024 squad wanted to continue the trend and turned three double plays during opening weekend.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Five different pitchers found time in the circle against Tennessee, with
<b>Crandall</b> pitching a team high 5.2 innings. In <b>Aliyah Binfords</b> first appearance in the circle post injury, she struck out three and only allowed one hit.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Seven different Bears recording a hit during the first weekend of the season, with
<b>Taylor Strain, Hott</b> and <b>Govan </b>each recording multiple hits. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="margin-left:5.0pt;text-indent:-5.0pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> Head coach
<b>Glenn Moore</b> hit his 1,000th career win last season, when the Bears took down UT Arlington on March 23, 2023. He is looking for his 900th win at Baylor this season.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white">-BaylorBears.com-</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#154734;mso-ligatures:none">Katy Gilmore</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> | Associate Director of Athletic Communications</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">O: 254-710-2743 | C: 254-252-2182</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><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@01DA5F5F.C6953510" alt="cidimage002.png@01D79F3C.9D2300D0"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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