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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. 21, 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 Heads to Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs</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 five opponents over three days in California</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><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;mso-ligatures:none">katy_gilmore@baylor.edu</span></a><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-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif">No. 22 BAYLOR</span></b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> (3-3)
<b>at </b><b>MARY NUTTER CLASSIC</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Thursday, Feb. 22 vs. No. 23 Oregon Palm Springs, Calif. Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: FloSoftball<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Thursday, Feb. 22 vs. Notre Dame Palm Springs, Calif. Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: FloSoftball<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Friday, Feb. 23 vs. UC Riverside Palm Springs, Calif. Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: FloSoftball<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. No. 19 UCLA Palm Springs, Calif. Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: FloSoftball<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. No. 13 Missouri Palm Springs, Calif. Radio: 101.3 FM Watch: FloSoftball<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 continues their road swing this week with a trip back to the Mary Nutter Classic
in Palm Springs, Calif., where they will face five different opponents from Feb. 22-24.
<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 be facing No. 13 Missouri, No. 19 UCLA, No. 25 Oregon, Notre Dame and UC Riverside
in their trip out west. <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 holds the all-time record against Notre Dame (2-1) and UC Riverside (2-0), while trailing
in the all-time records against Missouri (32-19) and UCLA (5-3). The Bears are tied in the all-time series against Oregon (7-7).<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"> This is the Bears first trip back to the Mary Nutter Classic since the 2022 season, when they
went 2-2 in the tournament. <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 three national polls: No. 22 (Softball America), No. 19 (D1Softball) and
No. 22 (ESPN/USA Softball). The Bears are still receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA poll.<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 have faced two ranked teams already this season (No. 2 Tennessee and No. 23 Louisiana)
and will continue that trend this week as they face three more ranked opponents. BUs three losses on the season are against ranked teams.
<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 found its offense last week, recording 32 hits as a team, led by
<b>Shaylon Govan</b> who went 9-for-14 at the plate while hitting .643. She brought home two RBIs while recording an intentional walk and not striking out once.
<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 also recorded seven doubles last week, led by
<b>McKenzie Wilson</b> and <b>Amber Toven</b> who each had two. <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"> Pitcher
<b>RyLee Crandall</b> picked up two wins and a save last week with a 0.72 ERA. She struck out six, while only allowing one earned run through 9.2 innings of work.
<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">
<b>Aliyah Binford</b> had a team-leading 13 strikeouts last week, through 13.0 innings of work. She went 1-1 in the circle and picked up a save.
<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">
<b>Orme</b> pitched 3.0 innings against Louisiana, allowing only one hit while striking out two and recording a save.<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 five during last weeks play and now totals eight for the 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"> Eleven different Bears have recorded a hit so far this season, with Govan leading the way with
11, followed by Hott and Wilson with six apiece. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="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 and is 19 wins away from that milestone.</span><i><span style="color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">-- <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@01DA64B3.58347F50" 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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