Baylor Gets Offensive In Softball Win Over St. Benedict

Lady Raiders Smack Four Home Runs, 17 Hits In 12-1 Victory Wednesday

  • Wednesday, May 24, 2017
  • John Hunt
Baylor's Macy McKnight is well into her homerun trot as she heads for third on her way to the plate in the Lady Red Raiders' 12-1 win over St. Benedict in a Division II-AA state tournament game in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Baylor's Macy McKnight is well into her homerun trot as she heads for third on her way to the plate in the Lady Red Raiders' 12-1 win over St. Benedict in a Division II-AA state tournament game in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
photo by Dennis Norwood

MURFREESBORO – The two-time Division II defending state softball champion Baylor looks ready to challenge for another title.

The Lady Red Raiders spotted St. Benedict an unearned run in the first inning, but came back strong to prevail by a 12-1 final in six innings.

Wednesday’s win, Baylor’s 25th against three losses, sets up a winners bracket final with arch-rival GPS, which advanced on Tuesday with a five-inning win over Briarcrest.

But on a day where the biggest challenge was the rain and the wind, Baylor bounced back from that early deficit and took care of business by pounding out 17 hits and scoring at least one run in five of the six innings played.

“It always feels good to get the first one behind us, especially with all of this unpredictable weather,” said Baylor coach Kelli Smith following the game.

“I’m really proud of our hitters, especially Macy McKnight, as we really had a good effort from the entire lineup.  I was glad to see us bounce right back after that early run and it was nice to see everyone involved.

“And it was by design that we wanted to give both of our pitchers some time in the circle, even though Macy only got to pitch one inning,” Smith added.

Emma Claire Taylor led off the game for the Lady Eagles by reaching on a Baylor infield error.  She stole second and went to third on a groundout by Rosie Robinson.  She then scored on another groundout by Gabriella Ray.

Baylor starting pitcher Acelynn Sellers retired 11 straight St. Benedict hitters following the error before giving up a two-out single to Grace Sweat in the fourth.  Abby Blackstock then received the only walk from the Baylor eighth grader, but the inning ended with a strikeout.

Meanwhile, the Lady Red Raiders got back-to-back doubles from Cheyenne Lindsey and Abby McNamara to tie the score in the first.

McKnight then gave Baylor its first lead with a solo homer to right with one out in the second.

Nobody scored in the third, but Baylor scored three in the fourth, five in the fifth and two more in the sixth to put the game away.

McNamara, who was one of three Baylor players with three hits on the day, had the big blow in the fourth with a two-run double while Kamrie Rich doubled down the line to plate McNamara.

Then in the fifth, the Lady Raiders proved they could hit the long ball as Makayla Packer stroked a three-run blast to left before Rich launched a two-run shot three hitters later.

Then in the sixth, after a brief rain delay where it really rained hard for about five minutes, McKnight followed a single by Ashton Bazzell with her second round-tripper of the day to end the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

McKnight, who only got to pitch one inning and allowed one hit, got down on herself and decided to take it out on her next at-bat.  Now you know the rest of the story.

“I gave up the one hit and got down on myself.  I really didn’t expect an inside pitch after the first home run, but I figured they would go outside, so with a two-strike count, I moved up into the box and guessed right.  I think that’s four homers for me now, but the first time I’ve ever had two in the same game,” the slender 15-year-old freshman explained.

It seems like the Lady Eagles always play Baylor in the state softball tournament.  Coach Joe Pearson knows all too well what the Lady Red Raiders are capable of doing.  He watched it with his own eyes on Wednesday.

“No doubt the better team won today,” he expressed after his team dropped to 16-15 for the season.

“We played with too much emotion and not enough passion.  Unfortunately, the emotion won’t carry you as far.  We’ve played Baylor a bunch in the past, so we knew what we were up against.  They just have too much and they proved it today,” he added.

Sweat was the losing pitcher after giving up all 12 runs on 17 hits.  She also had two strikeouts and she walked a pair.  And she was the only St. Benedict player to get a hit as she added a second single with two outs in the sixth.

McNamara, Rich and Emily Rye all had three hits for Baylor while McNamara, Rich, McKnight and Packer all had three RBIs.

Sellers, McKnight and Packer all had two hits while Lindsey and Bazzell both had one each.

While Baylor now waits until Thursday to play GPS, St. Benedict is scheduled to play Briarcrest later Wednesday afternoon with the winner of that game facing the Baylor-GPS loser on Thursday afternoon.

ST. BENEDICT  100 000 – 0 2 0

BAYLOR  110 352 – 12 17 1

Sweat and Blackstock; Sellers, McKnight (6) and Rich.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Chandler Gentry of Baylor lays down a bunt against St. Benedict in the Lady red Raiders' 12-1 blowout of the Lady Eagles.
Chandler Gentry of Baylor lays down a bunt against St. Benedict in the Lady red Raiders' 12-1 blowout of the Lady Eagles.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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