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<a name="_Hlk490052374"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">March
8, 2024</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">No. 14 Baylor Softball Drops Conference Opener Against No. 7 Oklahoma State, 4-1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Bears fall in first extra-inning game of the season<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white">WACO, Texas –</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"> No. 14 Baylor
Softball dropped its conference opener against No. 7 Oklahoma State, 4-1, in eight innings Friday night at Getterman Stadium.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none">In the Bears’ first extra-inning game of the season, BU led for the majority of the game until the tying run came across in the top of the seventh
to send it to extras.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">THE RUNDOWN</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
The Bears and Cowgirls battled in a pitchers’ duel for most of the game, without a single run coming across until the fifth inning.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Aliyah Binford pitched lights-out in the contest, allowing a hit in the top of the first but picking up two strikeouts to keep OSU off the board. Binford followed
with a 1-2-3 top of the second before allowing a second hit in the third inning but striking out three more on the way.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Baylor’s Taylor Strain singled to lead off the bottom of the first but was ultimately called out after a review said she left early, erasing an infield single
from Emily Hott as well. With two outs and no one on, Shaylon Govan walked, but that would be it for the Bears in the first.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Struggling to find an offensive rhythm against Oklahoma State’s Lexi Kilfoyl, the Bears didn’t record their second hit until the bottom of the fourth when Sydney
Collazos singled to center field. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">After sitting the Cowgirls down in order again in the top of the fifth, Baylor was able to bring home the first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">After Oklahoma State made some defensive changes in the outfield, Ana Watson popped up to left field, but an error found her standing on second base with no one
out. The Bears then capitalized when Abi Flores hit a bad-hop single past the second baseman to drive in Watson for an unearned run. With the 1-0 lead, Binford reached on a fielder’s choice, but that would be all for the Bears in the fifth inning.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">OSU tried to threaten in the top of the sixth, but a double play on a sacrifice bunt quickly cleared the bases and stifled the Cowgirls’ threat.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Collazos walked in the sixth but that would be the last baserunner for the Bears until extra innings were needed.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">After a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, a sacrifice bunt moved the runner over before another walk had two on for the Cowgirls with only one out. The
Bears then tried to turn two on a groundout to second base, but the runner at first was called safe on a fielder’s choice and the runner on second came home to score to tie the game 1-1.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Heading to extras after a quiet bottom of the seventh for the Bears, Binford returned to the circle to get the leadoff strikeout. But after the next batter walked,
Oklahoma State’s Claire Timm hit a homer over the wall in right field to give OSU the 3-1 lead. The Cowgirls’ last run came around to score after a throwing error and a single to left field that gave OSU the 4-1 advantage.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">With Baylor down to its last chance, Strain beat out an infield single in the eighth, but OSU ended the Bears’ comeback by turning a game-ending double play.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
<b>HIGHLIGHTS<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Taylor Strain, Sydney Collazos and Abi Flores accounted for the Bears’ four hits<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Strain tallied the only muti-hit performance for the Bears<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Aliyah Binford pitched 6.1 innings, striking out eight and holding OSU scoreless until the seventh<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Binford now has a team-leading 60 strikeouts
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Kaci West pitched 0.2 innings in relief, striking out two<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Shaylon Govan and Collazos each drew a walk<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">The Bears turned their 14<sup>th</sup> double play of the season<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color:black;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BU only gave up three hits through the first five innings<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">QUOTABLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Sydney Collazos on facing Oklahoma State …
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“They have a good team. The Big 12 has a lot of good teams and a lot of good pitchers. We have just as many good pitchers, too. I think she’s a powerful pitcher, a dominant pitcher.
We did good making adjustments, and we had some tough breaks. But we’ve got two more (chances) at them.</span>”<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Head Coach Glenn Moore on the game …<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">“We’re inches away from knocking off a top-5 team right there and just didn’t get that double play turned. I’m really proud of the way the girls came out and fought. (Lexi) Kilfoyl
is an unbelievable pitcher and it’s hard to lift the ball. I thought we fought hard. I thought we had some weak at-bats at the same time. But we found a way to push one across first and just couldn’t hang on. We had a good plan, good strategy and got better
tonight, but disappointing that we couldn’t pull out a win.</span>”<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">UP NEXT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">The Bears will continue the series against No. 7 Oklahoma State facing the Cowgirls Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m. CT at Getterman Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.25pt;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#154734;mso-ligatures:none">Katy Gilmore</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> | Associate Director
of Athletic Communications</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">O: 254-710-2743 | C: 254-252-2182</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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@01DA71B0.CBE8B7E0" alt="cidimage002.png@01D79F3C.9D2300D0"></span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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