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LAFAYETTE, La. – Baylor Softball fell in game one on championship Sunday before defeating No. 13 national seed Louisiana, 4-3, in the winner-take-all game at Lamson Park to advance to its seventh super regional in program history.
The Bears were run-ruled by the Ragin’
THE RUNDOWN
Baylor got off to a rocky start in game one, giving up two runs in the top of the first inning to fall behind early. Not able to score in the bottom half of the inning, Baylor only conceded one more run to Louisiana until the fourth inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns blew the roof off the game in the top of the fourth inning, putting up 10 runs to take the commanding 13-0 lead. Down 13 runs, Baylor couldn’t score and fell in five innings.
Heading to the winner-take-all game seven, BU turned to RyLee Crandall in the circle to face Louisiana for the third time in regional play.
Leading off game two, Emily Hott hit her 10th home run of the season to give Baylor the early 1-0 lead. Presleigh Pilon followed the homer with a single, but that would be it for the Bears in the top of the first.
ULL responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own to take the lead.
Bringing the no-quit attitude to game two, catcher Sydney Collazos hit a solo shot over the fence in left field to lead off the second inning and tie the game, 2-2.
Louisiana re-took the lead in the bottom of the third, after three-straight singles plated one run to give the Ragin’ Cajuns the 3-2 advantage.
A quiet fourth inning led the Bears to a two spot in the top of the fifth to put BU back in front. Taylor Strain and Hott singled to lead off the inning before moving to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt. Shaylon Govan then hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Strain from third and knot the game at 3-3. Aliyah Binford brought home the go-ahead run on a single to left field that gave the Bears the one-run advantage in the fifth.
After retiring the Ragin’ Cajuns in order in the bottom of the fifth, they came back and threatened in the bottom of the sixth. After the leadoff batter, Cecilia Vasquez singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, she tried to come home on a single to center field but a perfect throw from Strain to Collazos stopped the tying run from scoring.
Heading to the bottom of the seventh inning with the one-run advantage, the Bears retired the first two batters before walking Alexa Langeliers. That would be all for Louisiana as a groundout ended the game, securing the Bears’ seventh super regional appearance in program history.
Head Coach Glenn Moore on the game First of all, just want to thank Louisiana for hosting a great regional and great event. What a war we had today with Louisiana. Nothing that caught me by surprise. I was happy we had the evening off last night, but I had no doubt that were going to come back and make a run for it. I didn’t expect to be sucker punched the way we were in the first game. I can’t say enough about our girls to be able to regain their composure and come out and put up a battle and give themselves a chance to win the second game. It’s a game that could have gone either way. I can’t say enough for RyLee Crandall. Just battling with one of the top offenses that we’ve seen this year and going toe to toe with them and letting our defense help her but also just staying on top of it. So, praise be to God for the opportunity and the stamina to come back and compete.”
Taylor Strain on throwing the runner out at home …
“I had more confidence in Sydney, just knowing she was going to do everything she could with whatever throw I was about to give. I was about to give it my all and I just trusted her, and she got the job done as much as I did. She did the same amount, so props to Sydney.”
RyLee Crandall on what worked for her …
“I think Coach Newman called a great game and she was willing to listen to what I thought and let me participate in the pitch calling too and as well with Sydney. But definitely the defense. I mean, I had one strikeout, and there were three runs and there could have been a lot more if there wouldn’t have been such great plays and people that have my back. Taylor Strain, Presleigh Pilon, Kaci West I can go on and on. They did great.”
Sydney Collazos on what was said between games …
“Even just the upperclassmen in general, we knew what kind of talent we have on this team. And we knew this wasn’t going to be our last game. That’s kind of what we built off of. We knew it was going to be a game of momentum and obviously they had the momentum going into that second game, so we made sure to really establish the fact that we’re going to grab that momentum early, celebrate the little things and do whatever we can to keep the (momentum) in our favor.”
UP NEXT
The Bears will head to Gainesville, Fla., to face No. 4 national seed Florida in a best-of-three series that will take place Thursday-Saturday, May 23-25, or Friday-Sunday, May 24-26, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
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