WACO, Texas – A four run, three hit fourth inning by Baylor aided by two McNeese miscues set the tone in the series opening 5-2 loss Friday night. The series will conclude Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader. 

Following two scoreless innings for both teams, the Bears (14-9) mounted a 4-0 lead in the third inning the Cowgirls (14-9) were unable to match.  

"I thought we did a good job at the plate answering after being down 4-0, but two miscues kept us from having a big inning," said head coach James Landreneau. "Pitchers Whitney Tate and Shaelyn Sanders did a good job minimizing damage. We are just going through the process of learning how to win. We have some work to do. I feel we will clean it up and will become a good team."  

Key Moments: 

Third Inning 

• The Bears scored the first run of the game with an RBI single 

• A Cowgirl error allowed the Bears to scratch another run 

• A two RBI double created a 4-0 lead over the Cowgirls 

Fourth Inning 

• Chloe Gomez's RBI single scored Josie Willingham for the first Cowgirl run of the game (4-1)  

• An error by Baylor gave Crislyn Moreno the opportunity to make it home to cut the Bears' lead in half 4-2 

• An RBI single gave the Bears a three-run advantage (5-2) 

Game Notes:  

• McNeese picked up five hits in the game 

• Reese Reyna had the only extra base hit for the Cowgirls with a double 

• Willingham and Moreno scored the Cowgirl runs  

• Chloe Gomez had the only Cowgirl RBI of the game  

• McNeese left five runners on base four of which were in scoring position 

• Baylor left five runners on base three of which were in scoring position 

• McNeese used three pitchers (Whitney Tate, Ashley Vallejo, Shaelyn Sanders) 

• Starter Whitney Tate (2-7) absorbed the loss, giving up five runs off four hits in 3.2 innings of work 

• Second reliever Sanders gave up one hit in 2.0 innings of work  

Next Game: 

The three-game series will conclude Saturday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.