In a spirited showdown at Red and Charline McCombs Field, the No. 24 Baylor Bears faced off against the reigning national champions, the Texas Longhorns, and fell 10-2. The game was a testament to Texas’ formidable prowess and Baylor’s gritty determination.
The Longhorns wasted no time, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a combination of timely hits and strategic patience at the plate. Baylor, however, showed resilience in the fourth inning. Karynton Dawson sparked the offense with a leadoff double, followed by Faith Piper’s single, setting the stage for Kaci West’s RBI groundout that cut the deficit to 2-1.
Freshman Kaygen Marshall nearly tied the game with a deep shot to short, but a replay review overturned the call, keeping Texas ahead. The Longhorns then unleashed a seven-run barrage in their half of the fourth, highlighted by Kayden Henry’s two-RBI triple and a trio of consecutive homers from Reese Atwood, Katie Stewart, and Hannah Wells, pushing their lead to 9-1.
Averie Waddell provided a spark for Baylor, both defensively and offensively. She picked off a runner in the second inning and later launched her second homer of the season, a solo shot to center field, narrowing the gap to 9-2.
Texas sealed the deal in the bottom of the fifth with Leighann Goode’s RBI single, setting the final score at 10-2.
Key takeaways from the game include:
- Baylor’s ongoing challenge against Texas, now holding a 25-44 record overall and 10-24 in Austin.
- The Bears have experimented with their 28th different lineup this season, showcasing their adaptability.
- Karynton Dawson continues to excel with a team-high 13 extra-base hits, boasting a .692 average when leading off an inning.
- Averie Waddell, with her second homer of the season, also marked her fourth runner pickoff, a team high.
- Kaci West’s consistent performance with runners on base was evident with her fifth RBI in 11 opportunities this season.
As the series shifts to Waco, Baylor will look to rally and make a statement against No. 2 Texas in the finale on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Fans can expect another thrilling chapter in this storied rivalry.