Baylor rides quick start to win over Florida, sets up Game 3 of Gainesville Super Regional
The Baylor offense is different when Shaylon Govan is hitting for power. The first baseman has an incredible batting average and on-base percentage this season. It wasn’t until the final two months of the season that she found her power stroke.
Govan up the Bears up early with their season on the line. She lifted a riseball from Keagan Rothrock for a three-run blast in the first. Eight of Govan’s team-high 11 home runs have come since April 13.
Shaylon GoYard 😮💨#SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/8axejUMPlA
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 25, 2024
Baylor beat Florida 5-2 behind the early offense and RyLee Crandall’s effort in the circle to set up a win-or-go-home game on Sunday.
Crandall enjoyed the early run support and went to work. Crandall did an impressive job keeping the lethal Florida lineup off-balanced. She only had six strikeouts but was able to use her changeup, screwball and drop to earn Ks.
None were bigger than in the third inning. Florida threatened in the third with a pair on. Crandall erased the threat with back-to-back strikeouts against SEC Player of the Year Jocelyn Erickson and Florida home run leader Reagan Walsh.
Two K’s to end the inning 👏#SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/3VzosbsUDT
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 25, 2024
Crandall retired the last seven batters to close the door on the second game. She also got plenty of help from her defense. Shortstop Presleigh Pilon and center fielder Taylor Strain, two players taking over for missing starters, both had nifty plays in the field.
u r kiddingggggggggg 🤯#SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/BALx9DmNIf
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 25, 2024
Strain has been somewhat of a sparkplug for Baylor this postseason. She placed two perfect bunts for base hits on Saturday. She’d later score on a wild pitch in the second. Her bunt in the sixth loaded the bases for Emily Hott’s sacrifice fly.
Tim Walton pulled Rothrock after the Govan homer as Ava Brown earned every out for the Gators. We can assume Rothrock will be back in the circle for the decisive contest on Sunday. Baylor could go back to Crandall or Aliyah Binford, who both have been effective against Florida’s offense.
