WACO, Texas – McNeese softball split a doubleheader with Baylor Saturday afternoon, picking up a 5-4 come from behind win in the opening game before falling 3-0 in the nightcap.  

McNeese improves to 12-14 on the year with the split while Baylor improves to 15-10 overall.  

Game 1  

A four run fifth inning capped off by Toni Perrin's game winning two RBI double off the centerfield wall scored Chrislyne Moreno and Reese Reyna for the 5-4 come from behind win in the opening game of the doubleheader. 

McNeese took the early lead in their first at bat of the game on a Moreno RBI double but Baylor responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 4-1. 

Following three innings of trailing Baylor by three runs, the Cowgirls used the fifth inning to mount a one run lead over the Bears with four runs scored off three hits. The Cowgirls defense prevented the Bears from adding runs in the sixth and seventh innings leading to a 5-4 victory.  

With the tying run on second base and one out, Cowgirl reliever Shaelyn Sanders struck out McKenzie Wilson for the second out then got Kaci West to pop out to second base to end the game. With the win, Sanders remains undefeated at 4-0 on the year.  

Key Moments: 

First Inning 

• After stealing two bases, Jill Poullard scored off an RBI double by Moreno (McN 1, BU 0) 

• The Bears responded by scoring four runs on five hits (BU 4, McN 1) 

Fifth Inning 

• Josie Willingham tripled and scored on a passed ball to cut the Bears' lead in half (BU 4, McN 2) 

• An RBI by Reyna scored Poullard (BU 4, McN 3)  

• A two RBI double off the centerfield wall by Perrin gave McNeese a 5-4 lead  

Game Notes: 

• Winning pitcher Sanders (4-0) gave up three hits, struck out two and didn't allow a run in 6.2 innings of work 

• The Cowgirls had five hits, three of which were extra base hits while the Bears had seven 

• Moreno and Perrin both had a double while Willingham had a triple 

• McNeese had one error while Baylor had two  

• The Cowgirls drew three walks while Baylor drew one 

• McNeese left six on base while Baylor left five 

• Perrin led the Cowgirls with two RBI followed by Moreno and Reyna who both had one  

• Poullard led with two runs scored followed by Willingham, Moreno, and Reyna who each had one  

Game 2 

A two RBI homerun by Aliyah Binford in the first inning gave the Bears the early lead. Binford was nearly perfect in the circle as well. Binford carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning until Poullard led off with a single through the left side to break up the no-hitter for the only Cowgirl hit of the game.  

Key Moments: 

First Inning 

• Baylor took the early lead on a two-run homer by Binford (BU 2, McN 0)  

Sixth Inning 

• A two out RBI single by Ana Watson raised Baylor's lead to three runs (BU 3, McN 0) 

Seventh Inning 

• A single by Poullard to lead off the inning broke up the no hitter, but Poullard was stranded on second base 

Game Notes: 

• McNeese drew two walks while Baylor drew four 

• McNeese left three on base all of which were in scoring position 

• Baylor left four on base, two of which were within scoring position 

• Pitcher Ashley Vallejo (5-6) absorbed the loss giving up three runs on five hits, three strikeouts in 7.0 innings  

• Baylor's pitcher Aliyah Binford ended the game with a one-hitter with six strikeouts in the complete game 

Next Game: 

The Cowgirls will host Southern Miss Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.