Sunday, May 22
Fort Collins, CO
2:30 PM
Baylor
29-24
10
vs
2
UC San Diego
28-27
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
UC San Diego
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
1
Baylor
0
1
0
4
0
5
10
11
1
SB Run Rules UC San Diego, 10-2
5/22/2022 7:03:00 PM | Softball
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Ranked 261st in the country with 14 home runs in its first 52 games, Baylor softball had a rare display of power with homers by Josie Bower and Ana Watson in a 10-2, run-rule victory over UC San Diego in Sunday's second-round game at the National Invitational Softball Championship.
Bower gave the Bears an early spark with a solo shot in the second inning, then Watson broke it open with a grand slam in the fourth, her first homer of the season and just the third of her career.
"As I have been trying to figure out my swing again this year coming back from an injury, to me, the home run came at a perfect time," Watson said. "I think it gave us confidence to hit the ball hard and with intention."
With the run-rule win in six innings, Baylor (29-24) advances to face North Alabama (40-18) at 5 p.m. CT Tuesday at TC Colorado Field, with the winner advancing to the championship round. The 10th-seeded Tritons (28-27) will play Tarleton State (29-24) in an elimination game at 5 p.m. Monday.
"Winning game one sets us up really well for this week," said Bower, who hit her third homer of the season and sixth of her career. "We only need one more win to make it to the championship bracket. I think my home run helped get the team excited and reminded us that we came here to win."
With Baylor starter Aliyah Binford (10-6) taking a no-hitter into the fifth, Bower put the Bears on top with a two-out solo homer to center field in the second off UCSD starter Jada Cecil (20-5).
After Binford worked her fourth-straight 1-2-3 inning, Baylor loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth. Bower was hit by a pitch, Sydney Collazos had the second of her three hits on the day (3-for-3) and Zadie LaValley walked.
Watson greeted reliever Kaja Simpson with her first-career grand slam to give the Bears a 5-0 lead.
"It took us a while to get the rust knocked off after nine days of practice," coach Glenn Moore said, "but once Josie sparked us, we didn't let up. We did lose focus defensively a little in the sixth, but a different look with Kaci West got some mishits and got us out of it."
Clarissa Reynosa broke up Binford's no-hitter with a one-out single in the fifth, and the Tritons broke through with two runs on four hits in the inning, closing the gap to 5-2.
UCSD loaded the bases for the second-straight inning in the sixth on a hit, a walk and an error. But, West struck out Monica Eng and then won a full-count battle with Alexa Demarse, wiggling out of the bases-loaded jam with a grounder to first.
Singles by Collazos, Watson and McKenzie Wilson, who went 3-for-4, loaded the bases with only one out. One run scored on an Emily Hott walk, then Binford drove in Watson with an infield single to third.
West hit a deep fly ball to the wall that right fielder Mikaila Pancino dropped for a costly error, as all three runs came across to give the Bears the run-rule victory.
In Sunday's other games, top-seeded Virginia run-ruled Bowling Green, 10-2, in five innings; fourth-seeded Central Arkansas scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to rally for a 5-4 win over Kansas; and sixth-seeded North Alabama beat third-seeded UNLV, 9-5.
Monday's elimination games will start with SFA versus Kansas at 9:30 a.m. CT, followed by George Washington vs. Bowling Green at noon, Rutgers taking on UNLV at 2:30 p.m. and Tarleton State playing UC San Diego at 5.
THE RUNDOWN
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Baylor softball secured its first win in the National Invitational Softball Championship Sunday afternoon, defeating UC San Diego 10-2, in run-rule fashion at TC Colorado Field.
The Bears struck first in the matchup as Josie Bower blasted a solo home run over the wall in centerfield in the bottom of the second inning.
Starting pitcher Aliyah Binford sat the Tritons down in order in the first four innings, not allowing a hit until the top of the fifth.
McKenzie Wilson doubled in the bottom of the third, and Emily Hott walked to put a couple of runners on, but no more runs scored.
Baylor came up big in the fourth inning when Bower was hit by a pitch, Sydney Collazos singled and Zadie LaValley walked to load the bases. Ana Watson then crushed her first home run of the season over the wall in left-center field, for the second grand slam of her career.
Trying to rally back in the fifth inning, UC San Diego plated two runs after loading the bases to chip away at Baylor's lead.
After the Tritons loaded the bases again in the sixth inning, reliever Kaci West came in and worked out of the jam not allowing a run to score.
Collazos, Watson and Wilson all singled in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases for the second time in the game, before a walk was issued and another run scored. With a 6-2 lead, Binford plated another run with an infield single before Kaci West cleared the bases with a shot to the wall that the right fielder dropped.
With the run-rule victory in six innings, the Bears get a day off before playing the winner of the UNLV-North Alabama game at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
HIGHLIGHTS
Glenn Moore on the game…
"It took us a while to get the rust knocked off after nine days of practice, but once Josie sparked us, we didn't let up. We did lose focus defensively a little in the fifth, but a different look with Kaci West got some miss hits and got us out of it. Very happy with the offensive production from several."
Ana Watson on her grand slam…
"As I have been trying to figure out my swing again this year coming back from an injury last year, to me, the home run came at a perfect time. Adding on to the first home run from Josie, I think it gave us the confidence to hit the ball hard and with intention."
Josie Bower on winning game one…
"Winning game one sets us up really well for this week since we only need one more win to make it to the championship bracket. I think my home run helped get the team excited and reminded us that we came here to win."
Baylor Bear Insider
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Ranked 261st in the country with 14 home runs in its first 52 games, Baylor softball had a rare display of power with homers by Josie Bower and Ana Watson in a 10-2, run-rule victory over UC San Diego in Sunday's second-round game at the National Invitational Softball Championship.
Bower gave the Bears an early spark with a solo shot in the second inning, then Watson broke it open with a grand slam in the fourth, her first homer of the season and just the third of her career.
"As I have been trying to figure out my swing again this year coming back from an injury, to me, the home run came at a perfect time," Watson said. "I think it gave us confidence to hit the ball hard and with intention."
With the run-rule win in six innings, Baylor (29-24) advances to face North Alabama (40-18) at 5 p.m. CT Tuesday at TC Colorado Field, with the winner advancing to the championship round. The 10th-seeded Tritons (28-27) will play Tarleton State (29-24) in an elimination game at 5 p.m. Monday.
"Winning game one sets us up really well for this week," said Bower, who hit her third homer of the season and sixth of her career. "We only need one more win to make it to the championship bracket. I think my home run helped get the team excited and reminded us that we came here to win."
With Baylor starter Aliyah Binford (10-6) taking a no-hitter into the fifth, Bower put the Bears on top with a two-out solo homer to center field in the second off UCSD starter Jada Cecil (20-5).
After Binford worked her fourth-straight 1-2-3 inning, Baylor loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth. Bower was hit by a pitch, Sydney Collazos had the second of her three hits on the day (3-for-3) and Zadie LaValley walked.
Watson greeted reliever Kaja Simpson with her first-career grand slam to give the Bears a 5-0 lead.
"It took us a while to get the rust knocked off after nine days of practice," coach Glenn Moore said, "but once Josie sparked us, we didn't let up. We did lose focus defensively a little in the sixth, but a different look with Kaci West got some mishits and got us out of it."
Clarissa Reynosa broke up Binford's no-hitter with a one-out single in the fifth, and the Tritons broke through with two runs on four hits in the inning, closing the gap to 5-2.
UCSD loaded the bases for the second-straight inning in the sixth on a hit, a walk and an error. But, West struck out Monica Eng and then won a full-count battle with Alexa Demarse, wiggling out of the bases-loaded jam with a grounder to first.
Singles by Collazos, Watson and McKenzie Wilson, who went 3-for-4, loaded the bases with only one out. One run scored on an Emily Hott walk, then Binford drove in Watson with an infield single to third.
West hit a deep fly ball to the wall that right fielder Mikaila Pancino dropped for a costly error, as all three runs came across to give the Bears the run-rule victory.
In Sunday's other games, top-seeded Virginia run-ruled Bowling Green, 10-2, in five innings; fourth-seeded Central Arkansas scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to rally for a 5-4 win over Kansas; and sixth-seeded North Alabama beat third-seeded UNLV, 9-5.
Monday's elimination games will start with SFA versus Kansas at 9:30 a.m. CT, followed by George Washington vs. Bowling Green at noon, Rutgers taking on UNLV at 2:30 p.m. and Tarleton State playing UC San Diego at 5.
THE RUNDOWN
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Baylor softball secured its first win in the National Invitational Softball Championship Sunday afternoon, defeating UC San Diego 10-2, in run-rule fashion at TC Colorado Field.
The Bears struck first in the matchup as Josie Bower blasted a solo home run over the wall in centerfield in the bottom of the second inning.
Starting pitcher Aliyah Binford sat the Tritons down in order in the first four innings, not allowing a hit until the top of the fifth.
McKenzie Wilson doubled in the bottom of the third, and Emily Hott walked to put a couple of runners on, but no more runs scored.
Baylor came up big in the fourth inning when Bower was hit by a pitch, Sydney Collazos singled and Zadie LaValley walked to load the bases. Ana Watson then crushed her first home run of the season over the wall in left-center field, for the second grand slam of her career.
Trying to rally back in the fifth inning, UC San Diego plated two runs after loading the bases to chip away at Baylor's lead.
After the Tritons loaded the bases again in the sixth inning, reliever Kaci West came in and worked out of the jam not allowing a run to score.
Collazos, Watson and Wilson all singled in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases for the second time in the game, before a walk was issued and another run scored. With a 6-2 lead, Binford plated another run with an infield single before Kaci West cleared the bases with a shot to the wall that the right fielder dropped.
With the run-rule victory in six innings, the Bears get a day off before playing the winner of the UNLV-North Alabama game at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ana Watson hit her first home run of the year, a grand slam
- Aliyah Binford pitched 5.1 innings, striking out seven and throwing four 1-2-3 innings. She didn't allow a hit until the 5th inning.
- Josie Bower hit her third homer of the season and sixth of her career
- Sydney Collazos was 3-for-3 at the plate with three singles
- McKenzie Wilson was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double
- Every starter for the Bears reached base in the game
- Six Bears recorded hits
- Kaci West struck out one as a reliever, her first outing since April 12
Glenn Moore on the game…
"It took us a while to get the rust knocked off after nine days of practice, but once Josie sparked us, we didn't let up. We did lose focus defensively a little in the fifth, but a different look with Kaci West got some miss hits and got us out of it. Very happy with the offensive production from several."
Ana Watson on her grand slam…
"As I have been trying to figure out my swing again this year coming back from an injury last year, to me, the home run came at a perfect time. Adding on to the first home run from Josie, I think it gave us the confidence to hit the ball hard and with intention."
Josie Bower on winning game one…
"Winning game one sets us up really well for this week since we only need one more win to make it to the championship bracket. I think my home run helped get the team excited and reminded us that we came here to win."
- BaylorBears.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Binford, Aliyah (10-6)
L: Cecil, Jada (21-5)
Batting:
2B: Demarse, Alexa 1
RBI: Demarse, Alexa 1 ; Renner, Kelley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erickson, Rilley 1 ; Eng, Morgan 1
Batting:
2B: Wilson, McKenzie 1 ; Strain, Taylor 1
HR: Bower, Josie 1 ; Watson, Ana 1
RBI: Hott, Emily 1 ; Binford, Aliyah 1 ; Bower, Josie 1 ; Watson, Ana 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilson, McKenzie 1 ; Hott, Emily 1 ; Wachtendorf, Ashlyn 1 ; Bower, Josie 2 ; Collazos, Sydney 1 ; Powell, Grace 1 ; LaValley, Zadie 1 ; Watson, Ana 2
CS: Strain, Taylor 1
HBP: Bower, Josie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
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