Championship Recap: Baylor vs. UNLV

BAYLOR 4, UNLV 0
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FORT COLLINS, CO – Aliyah Binford handed in an MVP-type performance on the mound, holding UNLV to just two hits in a 4-0 shutout victory for Baylor to secure the 2022 Postseason NISC title.
 
Baylor (32-24) jumped on UNLV (43-15) right from the start hitting four singles right up the middle between second base and the shortstop. Emily Hott got the scoring started for the Bears with an RBI single, bringing home McKenzie Wilson, who was named to the all-tournament team. Josie Bower continued the hot hitting, scoring Kaci West, an all-tournament team selection, on an RBI single to give Baylor a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
 
Baylor flirted with added to the lead in the top of the 3rd after Kaci West hit a triple, and again in the top of the 4th with the bases loaded but couldn’t bring a runner home. In the top of the 5th inning, however, Baylor extended its lead when Bower once again delivered with a two-RBI double to give the Bears a 4-0 lead, leaving the rest to Binford on the mound.
 
Binford was close to flawless pitching, not giving up a hit until the bottom of the 5th inning. The sophomore pitcher struck out nine hitters in her complete-game performance, surrendering just two hits.
 
In the bottom of the 5th inning, UNLV senior pitcher etcher her name in the record books after striking out Binford and Ana Watson to break UNLV’s single-season strikeouts record that was set by three-time Olympic champion Lori Harrigan (223) in 1991.