The GPS Bruisers had already beaten Baylor in the region softball game that counted, but these two teams met on Tuesday afternoon in the final regular-season game for both.
Baylor scored five runs in the fifth inning en route to a 6-4 victory over the Bruisers.
Macy Ann McKnight, a promising eighth grader, got the start and went 6.2 innings for the win as she allowed four runs on 11 hits while striking out two. Only two of those four runs were earned as Baylor committed one error on the day.
Meanwhile, Cheyenne Lindsey had three hits in four plate appearances and scored two runs after stealing two bases. A.J. Johnson had another outstanding game and finished with two hits, including an RBI-double in that five-run fifth.
"We made a couple of errors, but our defense was phenomenal today," said Baylor coach Kelli Smith later.
"We turned a double play and had some really great plays that made a huge difference for us. Now we have to wait until next week to play again," Smith added, noting that her team faces Brentwood Academy in a best two-of-three series next weekend in the quarterfinal round of the D-II State Tournament.
Baylor loaded the bases in the fifth off GPS starter Macie Stanfield before Abby McNamara broke the tie with a two-run single. Johnson then ripped her RBI-double before Crosby Huckabay drove in the fourth run with a sacrifice fly and Kamrie Rich the final run on a fielder's choice.
Baylor had taken the lead with a run in the first before GPS knotted the score with one in the fifth.
The Lady Raiders then took control with those five runs in the fifth and had a seemingly-comfortable 6-1 going to the seventh when GPS rallied for three runs.
Aaliyah Henderson came on to get the final out with the potential winning run on second base for her second save.
Hannah Sanders was the leader at the plate for GPS with three hits in four trips, including a big two-run single in the seventh. Teammate Haley Smith also had a pair of hits, including a double and a run scored for GPS.
GPS 000 010 3 -- 4 11 2
BAYLOR 100 050 x -- 6 11 1
Stanfield and White; McKnight, Henderson (7) and Rich.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)