Most athletic competitions involving Baylor and GPS are always classic. Regardless of the team records, these two bring out the best in each other.
But that wasn't the case as the two proud programs played softball at the T.A. Lupton Field on the campus at GPS Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams have had exceptional seasons to this point with GPS having a 20-5 record coming in with Baylor at 16-6-2.
Baylor got the ball rolling in the first inning when Wrigley Burge led off with a walk and then scored on a double to left by Xahara Willis. Adison Wallington then lined to center for the first out before Amiya Leach got hit by a pitch. Mackenzie Dinsmore then ripped an 0-1 pitch over the fence in center for three runs.
GPS starting pitcher Addison Smith was replaced at that point by Sky Marshall, who quickly got the next two outs to stop the bleeding.
"We couldn't have had a better start, but our pitchers just didn't have their best stuff today," Smith said afterward.
"I thought we had a terrible practice on Monday and I think it may have carried over to today. But give GPS a lot of credit because they have a great team and really hit the ball well. The bottom line is that we just didn't compete today. And there was certainly no fight on our part when they took the lead in the second inning.
"There's still a lot of softball to be played and we have time to get things turned around," she concluded on a positive note.
While Dinsmore had the big hit for Baylor in the first, Smith got the Bruisers rolling with a two-run single that scored Calieah Reyes and Abby Lewis. Adrianna Reyes then singled to drive in Smith.
All of a sudden, the score was 4-3 on Baylor's side.
Baylor finished the day with five hits and none with more than one.
Marshall was the winning pitcher for GPS while Adison Wallington was the loser for Baylor after allowing five runs on five hits in one inning. She faced two hitters in the second before being replaced by Brenna Bagley.
Baylor will host Soddy Daisy on Wednesday for its next game while GPS is also on the road with a big game at Chattanooga Christian on Thursday.
BAYLOR 400 000 – 4 5 2
GPS 322 241 – 14 15 0
Wallington, Bagley (2), Wright (4), Bagley (5) and Willis, DeMatteo (3); Smith, Marshall (1) and Lawson.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)
GPS Rallies To Steamroll Baylor, 14-4 - Chattanoogan.com
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