Friday, February 9
Waco, Texas
5 PM
Baylor
vs
Tennessee
No. 19 SB Readies for Season Opener Against No. 2 Tennessee
2/8/2024 5:31:00 PM | Softball
Bears host the Lady Vols for a three-game series at Getterman Stadium
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Senior centerfielder McKenzie Wilson says the 19th-ranked Baylor softball team has "laid 2023 to rest" after a 40-win season and NCAA regional berth.
That means handing three-time national champion Oklahoma its only loss and sweeping a two-game series at World Series semifinalist Tennessee are all in the past.
"Although there were some great things that happened in 2023, it's now 2024," said Wilson, who hit .322 last year with 21 stolen bases, seven doubles and two triples.
Second-ranked Tennessee (1-0), though, remembers it all too well. The Vols, who opened the season with a 15-0, run-rule win over UTA on Thursday, will play the Bears in a three-game series at Getterman Stadium, beginning with Friday's 5 p.m. doubleheader.
"Maybe (we were) the best team on the scoreboard at the end of the day," Baylor coach Glenn Moore said of the 1-0 and 8-5 victories over the Vols on April 6-7 in Knoxville.
"But overall, there were some things that fell our way, and we were well aware of that. Our girls played really well, and we don't want to take anything away from them in those victories. We played in hostile territory in bad weather conditions, but they were an outstanding team."
That was a 51-win Tennessee team that swept Texas in a Super Regional and beat Alabama and Oklahoma State in the World Series before losing to Florida State in the semifinals.
"Great pitching and big hitters, those are the two things that got them to the World Series," said senior leftfielder Emily Hott, who hit .287 last year with three homers and 29 RBIs. "They, obviously, lost their ace (Ashley Rogers) . . . but (Payton) Gottshall and (Karlyn) Pickens are just as good. So, it'll be cool to see veteran hitting going up against top pitching like that."
Baylor certainly has the veteran hitters. The Bears return 10 players who started at least 25 games last season, including second-team All-America first baseman Shaylon Govan (.369, 11 homers, 54 RBIs) and the middle infield duo of shortstop Amber Toven and second baseman Presleigh Pilon.
"We have high expectations for ourselves," Hott said. "This is my first year here where we have the majority of upperclassmen. We have seven seniors going in. That just brings in a sense of confidence and maturity. We know what's going to come . . . we know there are going to be challenges and injuries. But it always helps to have old girls on the team, because we can lead the younger ones as well."
There are few questions for Baylor on the field or at the plate, with Govan, Pilon and Toven in the infield, senior Sydney Collazos (.348) at catcher and Hott, Wilson and senior Ana Watson (.300, three homers, 30 RBIs) in the outfield.
"We're old, so to speak, in the outfield," Wilson said, "so there's a level of experience there. It's just fun diving, laying out, knowing Emily has my back, knowing that whoever is in right field has my back, too. It gives me a sense of, 'Okay, if I lay out for this ball, I know that I have people behind me that are going to pick me up if things don't go the way that I want them to.' I trust them."
Junior Kaci West had to take on a more significant role in the circle at the end of last season with injuries to Dariana Orme and Aliyah Binford, but she is scheduled to start the year at third base. Moore said Collazos and freshman Leah Cran could also be used at the hot corner.
"We're hoping, obviously, that we have some good luck with our health that we haven't had the last few years," Moore said, "but I would say that Leah Cran for a freshman has really stood out to us. We know that we've got to get her in the lineup at some point and see how much she'll be able to contribute."
Orme (14-8, 1.92), who picked up wins last year over Oklahoma and Tennessee, is coming back off an offseason shoulder surgery. Binford closed out the win over OU, but played in only nine games and is returning from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
"Dari is going to be on a pitch count," Moore said, "so we're going to manage her appropriately and we're not going to risk her to win a ballgame. We're going to try to grow her and get her ready little by little. We're going to be patient, as tough as that might be in some situations. She's more valuable – her arm's more valuable – to us over the long haul than it is here in just one weekend."
With bad weather expected on Sunday, the series schedule was adjusted to a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday's 2 p.m. series finale. All three games will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
"It's not ideal to do that," Moore said of playing three games in less than 24 hours. "But remember, we're usually playing tournaments these first few weekends where you play two, two and one. So, typically, you can play four games in the first two days, and I've never liked that this early on."
No. 19 BAYLOR (0-0) vs No. 2 TENNESSEE (1-0)
Friday, Feb. 9 • vs. Tennessee • Waco, Texas | Getterman Stadium • Radio: 101.3 FM • Watch: Big 12 Now ESPN+Baylor Bear Insider
Senior centerfielder McKenzie Wilson says the 19th-ranked Baylor softball team has "laid 2023 to rest" after a 40-win season and NCAA regional berth.
That means handing three-time national champion Oklahoma its only loss and sweeping a two-game series at World Series semifinalist Tennessee are all in the past.
"Although there were some great things that happened in 2023, it's now 2024," said Wilson, who hit .322 last year with 21 stolen bases, seven doubles and two triples.
Second-ranked Tennessee (1-0), though, remembers it all too well. The Vols, who opened the season with a 15-0, run-rule win over UTA on Thursday, will play the Bears in a three-game series at Getterman Stadium, beginning with Friday's 5 p.m. doubleheader.
"Maybe (we were) the best team on the scoreboard at the end of the day," Baylor coach Glenn Moore said of the 1-0 and 8-5 victories over the Vols on April 6-7 in Knoxville.
"But overall, there were some things that fell our way, and we were well aware of that. Our girls played really well, and we don't want to take anything away from them in those victories. We played in hostile territory in bad weather conditions, but they were an outstanding team."
That was a 51-win Tennessee team that swept Texas in a Super Regional and beat Alabama and Oklahoma State in the World Series before losing to Florida State in the semifinals.
"Great pitching and big hitters, those are the two things that got them to the World Series," said senior leftfielder Emily Hott, who hit .287 last year with three homers and 29 RBIs. "They, obviously, lost their ace (Ashley Rogers) . . . but (Payton) Gottshall and (Karlyn) Pickens are just as good. So, it'll be cool to see veteran hitting going up against top pitching like that."
Baylor certainly has the veteran hitters. The Bears return 10 players who started at least 25 games last season, including second-team All-America first baseman Shaylon Govan (.369, 11 homers, 54 RBIs) and the middle infield duo of shortstop Amber Toven and second baseman Presleigh Pilon.
"We have high expectations for ourselves," Hott said. "This is my first year here where we have the majority of upperclassmen. We have seven seniors going in. That just brings in a sense of confidence and maturity. We know what's going to come . . . we know there are going to be challenges and injuries. But it always helps to have old girls on the team, because we can lead the younger ones as well."
There are few questions for Baylor on the field or at the plate, with Govan, Pilon and Toven in the infield, senior Sydney Collazos (.348) at catcher and Hott, Wilson and senior Ana Watson (.300, three homers, 30 RBIs) in the outfield.
"We're old, so to speak, in the outfield," Wilson said, "so there's a level of experience there. It's just fun diving, laying out, knowing Emily has my back, knowing that whoever is in right field has my back, too. It gives me a sense of, 'Okay, if I lay out for this ball, I know that I have people behind me that are going to pick me up if things don't go the way that I want them to.' I trust them."
Junior Kaci West had to take on a more significant role in the circle at the end of last season with injuries to Dariana Orme and Aliyah Binford, but she is scheduled to start the year at third base. Moore said Collazos and freshman Leah Cran could also be used at the hot corner.
"We're hoping, obviously, that we have some good luck with our health that we haven't had the last few years," Moore said, "but I would say that Leah Cran for a freshman has really stood out to us. We know that we've got to get her in the lineup at some point and see how much she'll be able to contribute."
Orme (14-8, 1.92), who picked up wins last year over Oklahoma and Tennessee, is coming back off an offseason shoulder surgery. Binford closed out the win over OU, but played in only nine games and is returning from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
"Dari is going to be on a pitch count," Moore said, "so we're going to manage her appropriately and we're not going to risk her to win a ballgame. We're going to try to grow her and get her ready little by little. We're going to be patient, as tough as that might be in some situations. She's more valuable – her arm's more valuable – to us over the long haul than it is here in just one weekend."
With bad weather expected on Sunday, the series schedule was adjusted to a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday's 2 p.m. series finale. All three games will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
"It's not ideal to do that," Moore said of playing three games in less than 24 hours. "But remember, we're usually playing tournaments these first few weekends where you play two, two and one. So, typically, you can play four games in the first two days, and I've never liked that this early on."
No. 19 BAYLOR (0-0) vs No. 2 TENNESSEE (1-0)
Friday, Feb. 9 • vs. Tennessee• Waco, Texas | Getterman Stadium • Radio: 101.3 FM • Watch: Big 12 Now ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 10 • vs. Tennessee • Waco, Texas | Getterman Stadium • Radio: 101.3 FM • Watch: Big 12 Now ESPN+
STORY LINES
• Baylor Softball is ready to start its season at home, as they host No. 2 Tennessee in a three-game series at Getterman Stadium. The 2023 season will feature a 50-game slate and 26 home games.
• With incoming weather to Waco, the Bears will now play the three-game season opener with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 9 starting at 5:00 p.m., followed by the series finale Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m.
• This season marks the highest-ranked opening weekend matchup for the Bears since 2009 when they faced No. 1 Florida to open the season slate.
• Friday will mark the first season start at home for the Bears since the 2018 season, when BU started with nine-consecutive wins, including an opening weekend series sweep of Northwestern State.
• When the season kicks off on Friday, the team comes back to the diamond with a veteran squad that consists of seven seniors and 17 upperclassmen.
• After ending the 2023 campaign back in the NCAA postseason, the Bears are looking to build on last year's 40-win season while returning all but one senior, Josie Bower, from the roster.
• Baylor added three freshmen to the squad with pitcher Lexie Warncke and infielders, Paige King and Leah Cran.
• The last time the Bears and Lady Vols faced off, BU swept then-ranked No. 4 Tennessee in a two-game series in Knoxville during the 2023 season. BU holds the 6-4 all-time record over Tennessee, with an undefeated 2-0 record in Waco.
• Baylor has been ranked in all four preseason polls: No. 11 (Softball America), No. 16 (D1Softball), No. 19 (ESPN/USA Softball) and No. 22 (USA Today/NFCA).
• The Bears will face seven opponents in the month of February who are either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason ESPN poll for a total of 11 games. Those teams include: No. 2 Tennessee, No. 8 Oregon, No. 13 Oregon, No. 21 Louisiana, RV Missouri, RV McNeese and RV Notre Dame.
• Leading the Bears last season, Shaylon Govan returns for BU after being named the 11th All-American in Baylor history last season. The junior hit .369 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. She set single-season Baylor records in walks (47) and sacrifice flies (7).
• Govan was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team as a unanimous decision.
• Senior pitcher Dariana Orme was named to the USA Softball Top 50 Player of the Year Watch List for the season. She led the Bears in the circle last season with 1.92 ERA and 126 strikeouts.
• Orme and Govan were both named to the NFCA All-Region team in 2023.
• The Bears middle infield turned 31 double plays during the 2023 season, which set a new single-season team record.
• Outfielder McKenzie Wilson led the team with 59 hits and 21 stolen bases last season, while shortstop Amber Tovenhad a team-leading 14 doubles.
• Aliyah Binford who missed the majority of last season with a season-ending knee injury returns for the Bears this season. As a dynamic two-way player Binford's bat and arm will give BU extra depth on the field.
• Head coach Glenn Moore hit his 1,000th career win last season, when the Bears took down UT Arlington on March 23, 2023. He is looking for his 900th win at Baylor this season.
QUICK HITS
• Baylor will face eight ESPN Preseason Top-25 teams this year, with four in the Preseason Top-10; Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and UCLA. BU will play 18 total games this season against preseason top-25 teams. Baylor was ranked No. 19 in the ESPN Preseason poll.
• Baylor welcomes back 21 returners from last year, with three freshmen.
• BU was picked 4th in the Big-12 Preseason coaches' poll. Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State had the top three spots.
• Every Baylor Softball game this season will be broadcast on the radio on 101.3 FM. Dan Ingham, in his ninth season as the voice of Baylor Softball, will call every game.
• Twenty-five of the Bears home games will be aired on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
MOORE ERA HIGHLIGHTS
• Glenn Moore is now 878-443 while coaching at Baylor and stands as the active wins leader across all sports for Baylor athletics. His .665 winning percentage is best in BU history and he's the program's all-time wins leader.
• Moore is looking for his 900th win at Baylor this season and is 23 games away from reaching that feat.
• Moore recorded his 1,000th career win with a 5-0 win over UT Arlington in Arlington, Texas (3/22/23).
• Moore recorded his 900th win overall with a 10-2 (5) victory over Grand Canyon in Waco (2/14/20).
• Moore's 800th career win came with a 9-3 win over McNeese State in Waco (2/22/18).
• Moore notched his 700th win at Baylor in the final game of the Tucson Super Regional, punching Baylor's ticket into the Women's College World Series (5/28/17).
• All but one of his 100-win milestones have come at Baylor, with his first 100th game coming during his tenure at LSU with a 6-5 win over Auburn (3/17/00).
• In Moore's 23 seasons as Baylor head coach, BU has cracked the Top 25 polls in all but one season.
• In 2021, Moore reached 800 wins at Baylor as he led the Bears back to the postseason
at the Gainesville Regional.
• Moore has coached 88 of Baylor's 93 All-Big 12 selections and 13 of Baylor's 14 All-Americans.
• Baylor has had 9 players drafted into the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) draft.
• Baylor has placed at least six selections to the conference's academic honors for 15 straight seasons and five or more for 20 straight years.
• Moore has a career record of 1017-485 over 27 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
MEET THE (RETURNING) TEAM
• With 21 returners, you will see some familiar faces on the diamond this year as 2023 letterwinners Emry McDonough, Taylor Strain, Ava Knoll, Emily Hott, Ashlyn Wachtendorf, Kaci West, Shaylon Govan, Sydney COllazos, Presleigh Pilon, McKenzie Wilson, Ana Watson, Dariana Orme, Shannon Vivoda, RyLee Crandall, Caroline Rowatt, Jensen Vienne, Amber Toven, Aliyah Binford, Ellington Whitaker and Zadie LaValley all came back.
• Of the returners, Govan returns with the highest batting average with .369 last season, while also recording a team high in home runs with 11 and RBIs with 54. She is also notched her name at the top of the Baylor record books with her single-season walks (47) and sacrifice flies (7) records.
• Also back, is Orme who led the team in the circle with 149.2 innings pitched, games started (26), andstrikeouts (126)
MEET THE (FRESHMAN) TEAM
• Baylor added three freshmen to their roster this season, Lexie Warncke, Leah Cran and Paige King.
• All three newbies hail from Texas, with Cran and King as infielders and Warncke in the circle.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE WCWS
• Baylor's four appearances in the Women's College World Series places the Bears tied for third all-time among private schools.
• The Bears are one of two private schools to make the WCWS since 2008, doing so three times over that period (2011, 2014, 2017).
• Since 2000, Baylor leads all private schools with four appearances, with the next closest school being Northwestern and DePaul with three each.
MOST WCWS APPEARANCES BY PRIVATE SCHOOLS
School # Years
1. Northwestern...................................... 6.... (1984, 1985, 1986, 2006, 2007, 2022)
2. Creighton.............................................. 5................. (1969, 1980, 1992, 1997, 1998)
3. Baylor.................................................. 4............................ (2007, 2011, 2014, 2017)
DePaul................................................... 4.............................. (1999, 2000, 2005, 2007)
4. Lehigh.................................................... 3.......................................... (1984, 1985, 1988)
5. Tennessee............................................ 2....................................................... (1995, 1996)
Notre Dame.......................................... 2....................................................... (2001, 2004)
GOOD TO BE HOME
• Baylor is in its 25th full season of play at Getterman Stadium, with the Bears securing a winning record in all but one full competition season since its doors were opened in 1999.
• Their first home game Getterman Stadium will take place Feb. 9 as Baylor their season with a three-game series against No. 2 Tennessee.
• In 2019, brand-new turf was installed on the field by GeoSurfaces, and new LED lights replaced the previous stadium fixtures.
• In 2020, Baylor installed a new video board. Daktronics, who has done every video board on campus with the exception of the one inside the Ferrell Center, did the renovations as the old scoreboard as be replaced with LED panels. The brick columns on either side of the board will remain in keeping with Baylor's beautiful campus, and lighted letters that read Getterman Stadium are up above.
• Named for Sue and the late Ted Getterman, the stadium is considered one of the most premier softball venue
in the nation. At the time, their donation stood as the largest single donation ever to a Baylor women's athletics
program.
-BaylorBears.com-
Players Mentioned
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