By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor
No. 8 Baylor softball was able to weather two rain delays in its opening round game of the Judi Garman Classic. But the Bears were unable to weather No. 25 Michigan. The Wolverines used the long ball to beat Baylor 6-3, giving the Bears their first loss of the season.
After moving up the start game from 12 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. in hopes to avoid the rain, the front moved in early and the game was delayed until 11:15 a.m.
With a runner on base and one out in the fourth for Baylor, the game was delayed a second time and resumed at 1:40 local time. Despite the delays, Michigan was in control from start to finish.
Michigan did all its damage in the first four innings, scoring three in the first and hitting a pair of home runs off Baylor junior Gia Rodoni.
Rodoni (5-1) lasted 3 1/3 innings in the circle, allowing a season-high six runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Junior Regan Green tossed 3 2/3 innings of relief, scatting three hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts.
The Wolverines got to Rodoni early, as their first three batters of the game reached base and scored. It started with an field single by junior second baseman Faith Canfield. Junior center fielder Natalie Peters then reached on an error by the Bears’ third baseman, putting two on with nobody out for senior first baseman Tera Blanco, who then drilled a three-run home run to left, setting the tone for Michigan and giving the Wolverines a 3-0 early lead.
Canfield kept the Wolverines going with a two out solo home run in the second. Michigan added another run in the third after a pair of singles and with a double steal in motion, the throw from junior catcher Carlee Wallace hit off the Michigan helmet and landed in left field, putting Michigan ahead 5-0.
Sophomore left fielder Haley Hoogenraad got Michigan going in the fourth with a leadoff double. Canfield then delivered her third hit of the game with a bunt single. Peters then drilled an RBI single, capping off the scoring for Michigan.
Baylor was limited to just five hits and did not get one until senior first baseman Shelby Friudenberg singled to center in the fourth following the second rain delay.
The Bears had a chance in the fifth after a one out double from sophomore shortstop Taylor Ellis, but were unable to bring her home.
In the sixth, Baylor cut the deficit in half following a three-run shot from sophomore outfielder Goose McGlaun.
Sophomore second baseman Nicky Dawson singled to open the frame and Friudenberg singled for her second hit of the game, setting up McGlaun’s home run.
But after a big sixth inning, the Bears were unable to muster any offense in the seventh, going down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Freshman Meghan Beaubien (9-2) went the distance for Michigan, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
Baylor (9-1) looks to bounce back when it takes on No. 2 Florida at 12 p.m. tomorrow and Charlotte at 2:30 p.m.
