AMES, Iowa - No. 18 Baylor Softball dominated the Iowa State Cyclones, 15-3, Saturday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex. 
 
The Bears, now 36-14 on the season and 5-9 in conference play, had hot bats on a cold day in Ames, recording 15 hits. 
 
Baylor was backed primarily by an eight-run fourth inning, which propelled BU to its seventh run-rule victory of the season. 
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Bears started things off fast, going up 2-0 in the top of the first after McKenzie Wilson drew a leadoff walk and Shaylon Govan doubled down the left-field line. Back-to-back singles from Sydney Collazos and Ana Watson then plated the Bears' first two runs. 
 
After starting pitcher RyLee Crandall sat the Cyclones down in order in the bottom of the first, Baylor added two more runs in the top of the second. Zadie LaValley led the inning off with a walk and Presleigh Pilon singled to center field before Wilson reached on a fielder's choice. Emily Hott singled, bringing home the Bears' first run of the inning and then Govan lined a sacrifice fly to centerfield, putting Baylor up four runs. 
 
Iowa State scored a run in the second and third innings, but Baylor took command in the top of the fourth, scoring eight runs. 
 
LaValley led off the inning with her first long ball of the season, and just the third of her career, as she sailed one over the wall in right field. With the Bears up 5-2, Pilon walked and stole second before Wilson singled through the right side to bring her home. Hott then laid down a bunt single to the pitcher, and both runners moved over on wild pitch. 
 
With two-on, Govan walked to load the bases and Collazos reached on a fielder's choice when the Bears started to break the game open. Ana Watson laced a two-RBI single down the left-field line, before Amber Toven followed her lead with a two-RBI single of her own to put the Bears up 10-2. The Bears scored their last two runs of the inning on an RBI groundout and a single from Wilson.
 
The Cyclones got a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning, but it was no match for the Bears' 12-3 lead. 
 
Adding some more insurance runs in the top of the fifth, Emry McDonough singled through the left side, before Jensen Vienne reached on an error and Shannon Vivoda brought home a run with a single, as a throwing error allowed another run to score. The Bears' last run came across on an RBI groundout and put BU up 15-3. 
 
A double would be all that Iowa State could come up with in the bottom of the fifth, as Baylor took the run-rule victory and evened the series at 1-1. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Four Bears had a multi-hit performance, with Presleigh Pilon going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate
• Zadie LaValley hit her first home run of the season, the third of her career
• 13 different Bears reached base in the contest
• McKenzie Wilson, Ana Watson, Amber Toven and Josie Bower all recorded a multi-RBI outing
• Shaylon Govan and Pilon each had doubles
• Govan is now third all-time in Baylor history with walks in a season (39) and tied for first in sacrifice flies with seven
• BU recorded its seventh run-rule victory of the season
• Baylor has now surpassed its run total from last season, already scoring 268 runs this season
• The Bears even the series with the Cyclones, 1-1

 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will face the Cyclones in the series finale on Sunday, April 30, at 12 p.m. CT.