MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Baylor is back to the final.
The Lady Red Raiders dispatched Chattanooga rival GPS Thursday for the third time in four games this season, 8-2, and moved into the Division II-AA softball state-title game.
They scored early and late, assuring pitcher Kayla Hughes of her 17th win and moving within a single victory of their 10th state title.
"I'm definitely excited to play for another state champion; definitely excited for the girls," coach Kelli Smith said. "I'm excited we have the chance to bring another state championship home to Baylor."
A win today would give the defending champions their fourth crown in five seasons.
The battery of Hughes and catcher Kam Rich came up big. While Hughes tossed a five-hitter, making only one big mistake, Rich tripled and doubled. Her triple came in the top of the seventh and chased home A.J. Johnson and Crosby Huckabay with pivotal insurance runs.
Hughes gave up a towering home run to the Bruisers' Hannah Kincer.
"Oh goodness, didn't you see it?" Hughes replied when asked about mistake pitches. "It was that one that went high and long over the left-field fence."
"Call that one a DCC - dumb coach call," interjected Tom Watson, Baylor's pitching coach. "Put that one on me."
Hughes, though, never missed a beat after that and afterward praised her teammates' bats and defense.
"It's about bouncing back," she said. "My offense is awesome and gives me a lot of confidence, and then the defense - I just throw it and let them make plays."
Rich's seventh-inning triple was followed by Hughes' own RBI single.
Smith knew her team was living right after her catcher stroked the triple into right.
"She just hit in the right spot," Smith said with a grin.
Johnson also had two hits, and eight of the nine Baylor starters had at least one.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.