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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">APRIL
23, 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:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Baylor Softball Readies for Midweek at Utah, BYU for Three-Game Set<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;mso-ligatures:none">Bears facing Cougars for the first time as conference opponents<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"> <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">BAYLOR</span></b><span style="font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif"> (25-18, 8-13 Big 12)
<b>vs </b><b>UTAH </b>(28-17, 7-11 Pac 12),<b> BYU </b>(26-19, 8-13 Big 12)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Wednesday, April 24 vs Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Dumke Family Softball Stadium Watch: Pac 12 Network Radio:
104.9 FM <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Thursday, April 25 vs BYU Provo, Utah Miller Park Watch: ESPN+ Radio: 104.9 FM
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Friday, April 26 vs BYU Provo, Utah Miller Park Watch: ESPN+ Radio: 104.9 FM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:120%;font-family:"Univers Condensed",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">Saturday, April 27 vs BYU Provo, Utah Miller Park Watch: ESPN+ Radio: 104.9 FM<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 prepares to head on the road to face Utah in a nonconference matchup on Wednesday,
April 24, in Salt Lake City before continuing down the road to face BYU in Provo, Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27.<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 holds the all-time record over the Utes 4-1. The Bears last faced Utah during the 2013
season when they won a nonconference game 5-2. The Bears played at Dumke Family Softball Stadium last season for the Salt Lake City regional but didnt have to face the Utes.<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"> BYU holds the all-time record over the Bears 5-1, including a 3-0 record over Baylor while playing
in Provo. THE Bears last faced the Cougars during the 2021 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"> The Bears are coming off a weekend series sweep over the UCF Knights, where the Baylor pitching
staff only gave up one run over three games and posted back-to-back complete-game shutouts in Sundays doubleheader.<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 snapped a 15-game nonconference win-streak when they fell against No. 23 Texas State,
6-1, in San Marcos. They are now 17-6 in nonconference games this season after falling against UT Arlington last Tuesday, 4-3. The game against Utah will mark the Bears last nonconference matchup of 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"> Fifteen of Baylors losses this season have come against teams ranked or receiving votes in polls
at some point in 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"> The team has 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 building 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 still receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Softball and NFCA/USA Today polls.<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 have already faced nine ranked teams this season: No. 2 Tennessee, No. 23 Louisiana,
No. 25 Oregon, No. 19 UCLA, No. 13 Missouri, No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 23 Texas State and No. 1 Texas. Last weekend marked the second time this season the Bears have faced the No.1 ranked team in a three-game series.
<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 currently ranked No. 20 in the RPI standings.
<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>RyLee Crandall</b> is leading the way in the circle this season with a 12-7 record, with 27 appearances and a 2.72 ERA. She has 90 total strikeouts and is fourth in conference only stats with 54 conference 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>Crandall</b> has also picked up the Bears only weekly Big 12 award so far this season, as she won Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for BUs win over No. 7 Oklahoma State, where she pitched a one-hit complete-game shutout. The sophomore was one hit away
from a perfect game, effectively retiring 21 of 22 at bats.<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> has a team-leading 115 strikeouts and holds a 8-9 record. She is currently ranked No.1 in the Big 12 in 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>Shaylon Govan</b> leads the Bears with a .437 average, 45 hits, seven doubles and five home runs. Her batting average is third in the Big 12 and 19th nationally, while her on base percentage is ranks second nationally. With her .582 on base percentage,
<b>Govan</b> is ranked 12th in the country in walks per game and has been walked 35 times so far this 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">
<b>Kaci West</b> has three saves on the season, which ties for first in the Big 12.
<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"> Sixteen different Bears have recorded a hit so far this season, with
<b>Govan</b> leading the way with 45, followed by<b> Emily Hott </b>with 42. There are 12 Bears with double-digit hits on the season.
<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 hit his 900th win at Baylor this season after taking down UTSA, 2-1, on April 9, 2024.<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;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>
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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>
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<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@01DA9598.BAB59180" 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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