No. 17 SB Readies for Pair of Midweek Tilts

No. 17 BAYLOR (11-3) vs SAM HOUSTON & PENN STATE

Tuesday, March 5 • at Sam Houston State • Huntsville, Texas • Bearkat Softball Complex • Radio: 101.3 FM • Watch: ESPN+
Wednesday, March 6 • vs. Penn State • Waco, Texas • Getterman Stadium • Radio: 101.3 FM • Watch: Big 12 Now ESPN+

STORY LINES
• Baylor Softball readies for two midweek tilts this week. First the Bears will head on the road to face Sam Houston State on Tuesday, March 5, before returning home to host Penn State on Wednesday, March 6 at Getterman Stadium.
• The Bears are in the midst of a 10-game win streak, including a 3-0 sweep of Morgan State last weekend at home.
• Baylor and Sam Houston have faced previously faced off 86 times, with Baylor leading the all-time record over the Bearkats 56-30.
• After adding a game with Penn State to the schedule last week, the Bears will be facing the Nittany Lions for the second time in program history. BU won the only previous game these two teams have faced off in.
• Baylor is now 11-3 on the season with all three of the Bears' losses this season have come against ranked opponents.
• 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.
• Baylor is ranked in all four national polls: No. 12 (Softball America), No. 10 (D1Softball), No. 17 (ESPN/USA Softball) and No. 21 (USA Today/NFCA). The new rankings come out on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• The Bears have already faced five ranked teams this season: No. 2 Tennessee, No. 23 Louisiana, No. 25 Oregon, No. 19 UCLA and No. 13 Missouri.
• After going 5-0 at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. and taking down three ranked opponents, the Bears took care of business sweeping Morgan State in a three-game home series.
• Ana Watson led the Bears offensively last weekend, going 4-for-6 at the plate and hitting .667, while recording a double and three RBIs.
• The Bears totaled 18 hits on the weekend, with just three extra base hits.
• Four different pitchers saw time in the circle on the weekend, with Aliyah Binford, RyLee Crandall and Lexie Warncke all making starts. Warncke start was the first of her career, while she also struck out a career-high six. Crandall had a team-leading nine strikeouts on the weekend in 5.2 innings of work. All three starters picked up a win.
• Kaci West picked up three saves in the circle against Morgan State. She pitched a total of 4.2 innings over the three games, striking out six and not allowing a hit or run. She now leads the Big 12 with saves on the season.
• 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.
• The Bears middle infield turned 31 double plays during the 2023 season, which set a new single-season team record. The 2024 squad wanted to continue the trend and turned two during last week's play and now totals 13 for the season.
• Fourteen different Bears have recorded a hit so far this season, with Govan leading the way with 17, followed by McKenzie Wilson, Taylor Strain and Emily Hott with 13.
• 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 and is 11 wins away from that milestone.

-BaylorBears.com-

No. 17 SB Readies for Pair of Midweek Tilts

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Players Mentioned

Aliyah Binford

Josie Bower

Leah Cran

RyLee Crandall

Emily Hott

Paige King

Dariana Orme

Taylor Strain

Lexie Warncke

Ana Watson

Kaci West

McKenzie Wilson

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