One batter into the bottom of the first inning in Tuesday’s softball game at GPS, the home team was in the worst position it was going to be in all game.
Five consecutive one-out hits later, GPS owned a three-run lead, and the Bruisers went on to defeat Baylor 6-1 in the opening Division II-AA East/Middle game for both teams.
Hits by Madison Boyd, Jackie Baird, Katy Richardson and Payton Leech — Baird’s and Leech’s were doubles, with Baird and Richardson picking up RBIs — chased Baylor pitcher Kaitie Sims quickly. The Bruisers’ Katie Davis then greeted reliever Tory Helton with a run-scoring single.
Baird, who ended up 3-for-3 with another double, delivered a two-run single in the second that made it 5-0.
“I think we were focused and ready to play,” GPS coach Susan Crownover said. “We hit better pitches than we have been lately. Then we kind of went flat after that.”
Not before the coach’s daughter, eighth-grader and No. 9-batter Kelby Crownover, hit a run-scoring single in the third. She was 2-for-2 with a double.
The Bruisers’ Tory Lewis, their shortstop and leadoff batter the two previous seasons, injured a knee in the first game this season and was out for a few weeks. During her absence the younger Crownover emerged at shortstop. Lewis, a Tennessee signee projected as an outfielder with the Lady Vols, was in center field for GPS (16-4) on Tuesday.
“Since she’s come back, we’ve been playing her some in the outfield,” Crownover said. “She’s gone back and forth a little bit, but we’re a better team with her out there. That way we can play Madison in right field. She can get to a lot of balls out there, and Kelby is holding her own at shortstop. She had a lot of assists today. I think we’re finally getting confident with where we want to be.”
Baylor coach Kelli Smith agonized over the five assists each by Crownover and Richardson. Pitcher Leech held the Lady Red Raiders to one hit and one walk through six innings, and then Alex Card lined a bases-loaded single up the middle with one out in the seventh.
“We had a lot of ground balls to shortstop and third base,” Smith said. “I’m not sure if we’re pulling outside pitches and hitting weak grounders. We had some good counts. When it’s 2-0 or 3-1, you’ve got to hit the ball hard. We had one here or there, but we waited until the last inning to put two or three together.
“Trying to turn it on in the seventh inning, that’s too late.”
Lauren Lybrand had two of the four hits for Baylor (9-4). Leech’s only strikeout ended the game.
“I thought Payton threw a really good game,” Crownover said. “In the dugout she talking about not having any strikeouts and I said, ‘As long as they’re not hitting you hard, we can make plays behind you.’ As long we’re making plays, we’re in good shape.”