Peyton Tanner Shines as Baylor Cruises Past Northwestern State in Getterman Classic
WACO, TX - On a sunny Sunday in Waco, sophomore pitcher Peyton Tanner showed exactly why there’s buzz building around her this season. With a career-high nine strikeouts in just four innings, Tanner helped power Baylor to a dominant 9-1 win over Northwestern State, capping off a strong weekend and pushing the Bears to a 4-1 start on the year.
Tanner didn’t just miss bats - she controlled the tempo. The right-hander scattered five hits, allowed just one run, and walked two in a performance that was as gritty as it was effective. Her nine punchouts mark the most by a Baylor pitcher since Aliyah Binford fanned 10 in the 2024 Big 12 Tournament, and it’s a clear sign that Tanner is trending in the right direction.
“She’s a fighter,” head coach Glenn Moore said postgame. “She’s got that heart of a lion. We’ve got to manage her pitch count better, but she wants the ball and wants to compete - and that’s something you can’t teach.”
Fast Start, Fast Finish
Baylor wasted no time jumping on the Demons. In the bottom of the first, freshman Gianna Gusman delivered a bases-clearing double that set the tone early and gave the Bears a 3-0 cushion. It was the kind of swing that not only opened the scoring but also opened the floodgates.
After a clean second inning from Tanner, the Bears struck again. Junior Leah Cran laced a two-run double as part of another three-run frame, stretching the lead to 6-0 and putting the game firmly in Baylor’s control.
Northwestern State managed to scratch across a run in the third, but Baylor responded with three more in the fourth to push the lead to 9-1 - and that’s where it stayed.
Numbers That Matter
- Baylor improved to 63-15 all-time in the Getterman Classic, continuing a tradition of early-season dominance at home.
- The Bears are now 491-195 at Getterman Stadium, a testament to how tough they are to beat on their own turf.
- This 4-1 start matches their hot opening from 2023 - a season that ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
- It’s also the 15th time in the Glenn Moore era that Baylor has started 4-1 or better.
Standouts All Around
While Tanner’s strikeouts grabbed the headlines, she wasn’t the only Bear making noise.
- Brooklyn Carter swiped two more bags, bringing her career total to 73 - the second-highest among Power Conference players. Her speed continues to be a game-changer on the basepaths.
- Faith Piper extended her hitting streak to six games, dating back to last season, providing consistency in the heart of the lineup.
- Amber Toven wrapped up the weekend with a scorching 5-for-11 line, launching two homers and posting a 1.091 slugging percentage.
That’s the kind of production that anchors a lineup.
- Jayden King and Harper Haas each recorded their first career hits, joining Olivia Buettner, Gianna Gusman, and Kaygen Marshall, who also notched their first collegiate knocks this weekend - a promising sign for Baylor’s depth and future.
Defensively, Baylor’s pitching staff held Northwestern State to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position. That kind of execution in high-leverage spots is what separates good teams from great ones.
Coach’s Corner
Moore emphasized how important it was to not just win - but to win decisively.
“It was nice to take control of one early,” he said. “The other wins this weekend will help us down the line, but when you keep squeaking them out, you start to think that’s sustainable.
It’s not. So to come out and dominate one from the start - that’s valuable.”
The Bears also got a chance to rotate in some young talent, which Moore noted could pay dividends later in the season.
What’s Next
The Bears leave the Getterman Classic with momentum and a clear sense of identity. The pitching is deep, the bats are heating up, and the young core is already contributing. As the season unfolds, performances like Sunday’s - where talent met execution - will be the blueprint for Baylor’s success.
For now, the Bears head into their next stretch of games with confidence, a 4-1 record, and a rising star in the circle. Peyton Tanner may not have cracked double-digit strikeouts just yet, but she’s knocking on that door - and she’s doing it with purpose.