LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana – No. 22 Baylor Softball took down McNeese, 3-2, Thursday night at the Cowgirl Diamond. 
 
THE RUNDOWN
The Bears started off strong, loading the bases in the top of the first after a two-out single from Shaylon Govan and back-to-back walks by Emily Hott and Aliyah Binford. 
 
Not bringing home a run in the top half of the inning, BU allowed a single base runner in the bottom half of the first, but catcher Sydney Collazos threw out the runner as she tried to steal second. 
 
After Baylor was retired in the second, pitcher RyLee Crandall worked out of a bases-loaded jam, striking out two Cowgirls to keep the scoreless frame. 
 
Baylor got things rolling in the top of the third, after McKenzie Wilson kicked things off with a single to left field and Presleigh Pilon layed down a perfect bunt to put two on for Govan. With a deep fly out to left field, Govan moved the runners over before a sacrifice fly from Hott brought home the first run. Aliyah Binford then doubled to right-center, bringing home Pilon before a single from Collazos plated Binford from second. 
 
Crandall sat the Cowgirls in order to close out the third inning. 
 
McNeese was able to plate a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but that would be the only runners to come across for the Cowgirls in the game. 
 
Baylor had two base runners again in the fifth, but no runs came across to score. 
 
After both teams were retired in order in the sixth, Wilson singled in the top of the seventh, but that would be all for the Bears. After a groundout to start the bottom half of the inning, Binford struck out two batters to secure the Bears' 3-2 victory. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• McKenzie Wilson went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run
• Shaylon Govan recorded two hits at the plate
• Five different Bears recorded a hit
• Emily Hott, Aliyah Binford and Sydney Collazos all recorded an RBI
• RyLee Crandall picked up the win, pitching 4.0 innings and striking out three
• Binford pitched 3.0 innings in relief, striking out five and not allowing a hit
• The Bears outhit the Cowgirls 7-4

QUOTABLE
Head coach Glenn Moore on the game: "We played a solid game in all phases. McNeese was a couple of outs from attending their first World Series last year and they are strong again. Offensively, it's a game of percentages, so we have to start getting rewarded soon for our quality plate appearances. Pitching and defense were very good as well. We got better tonight."

UP NEXT
The Bears will face No. 23 Louisiana in a three-game series, starting Friday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. in Lafayette, La.