By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor
Baylor softball capped off a perfect 5-0 performance in the Liberty Spring Classic Saturday morning. The Bears used a dramatic five-run seventh inning rally to knock off Delaware 5-3 in their opener.
Then in game two, it was a career day for senior outfielder Jessie Scroggins and sophomore second baseman Nicky Dawson, as the two combined for eight hits. Junior Gia Rodoni limited the Flames to just three hits as Baylor knocked off host Liberty 9-0 in six innings.
During game one against Delaware, Baylor was shutout and limited to just four hits as it trailed 3-0 heading to the top of the seventh.
But in the seventh, the Bears would not be denied. Sophomore first baseman Goose McGlaun started the rally with a solo shot to left field. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Ellis cut the deficit to 3-2 after she delivered an RBI single down the left field line. Senior third baseman Caitlin Charlton tied the game at three on a sacrifice fly.
Dawson then put Baylor in front on an RBI single and Scroggins doubled home Dawson for a 5-3 lead.
Delaware tagged Baylor junior Regan Green for three runs over her 4+ innings in the circle.
The Blue Hens got a run in the second on an RBI double from freshman catcher Chayanna Gallardo, a run in the third on a solo home run from junior catcher Anna Steinmetz and one in the fifth on a single from freshman outfielder Reyna de Jesus.
Rodoni (9-2) relieved Green with two outs in the fifth and struck out all seven batters she faced to get the win.
Against Liberty, Baylor took control early and never gave the Flames a chance.
Rodoni got her 10th win of the season, scattering three hits in six innings with two walks and 12 strikeouts as Baylor won 9-0 in a run rule game.
The Bears pounded out 14 hits, including eight from Dawson and Scroggins as they both had four hits in four at bats for Baylor. Dawson scored four times and Scroggins drove in three runs for the Bears’ offense.
McGlaun drove in Baylor’s first run of the game with a groundout and freshman catcher Hannah Thompson put the Bears in front 2-0 on her RBI single.
Scroggins put Baylor up 3-0 on her bases loaded single in the second. Senior designated player Shelby Friudenberg delivered an RBI single and McGlaun hit a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead.
Scroggins hit another RBI single in the fourth as Baylor lead 6-0 after four. In the sixth, following a triple from Dawson, Scroggins delivered another RBI single and sophomore outfielder Maddison Kettler then hit a two-run single for the Bears to round out the scoring.
Baylor (17-3) will now return home after going 8-3 in its 11 games in 10 days Spring Break road trip. The Bears will host Texas State at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Getterman Stadium. The matchup with the Bobcats will be Baylor’s first home game since Feb. 10 when the Bears swept a doubleheader against Northwestern State.
