Game 16 recap: North Alabama vs. Baylor

BAYLOR 18, NORTH ALABAMA 8

FORT COLLINS, CO — Baylor clinched a berth in the championship round of the 2022 NISC, registering a victory over North Alabama in Tuesday’s final game of the 2022 NISC boosted by five home runs, four doubles and 20 total hits.

Baylor (30-24) will play in the 1:30 p.m. MT semifinal Wednesday against Kansas or Virginia.

The Lions jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, as an Haley Jones double scored Lexie Harper, followed by a sacrifice fly from Georgia Land. The Bears came right back in the top of the second, tying the game with a two-run homer from Ana Watson.

Baylor took its first lead in the third — Taylor Strain singled with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a single from Kaci West. Josie Bower then doubled to score West, giving Baylor a 4-2 advantage. RBI hits from Sydney Collazos and Zadie LaValley pushed the lead to 6-2.

Emily Hott tacked another on for Baylor with a solo home run in the fourth; the Bears took full command in the fifth starting with a two-run home run from Watson, who brought in Bower with the shot to left field as the score moved to 9-2. Taylor Strain closed the inning with a two-run single that drove in McKenzie Wilson and Rhein Trochim. Watson ended the day with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBI.

The Lions (40-19) kept the contest going with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth by Harley Stokes that brought in Emma Broadfoot, making the score 11-4. Baylor scored seven runs in the top of the seventh.