The University of Utah softball team defeated the Baylor Bears 8-2 on April 18 in a Big 12 Conference game at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas. The win evened the series between the two teams, who are scheduled to play a deciding game on Sunday.
This victory brings Utah’s season record to 30-16-1 overall and a conference record of 6-10-1. The result was achieved with key performances from Kennedy Proctor, Mia Gomez, and Payton Crank, each hitting home runs during the game.
“I think this team enjoys rain delays more than any I’ve ever coached,” said coach Amy Hogue. “We’ve played some of our best innings after rain delays and today it felt very good to get some insurance for Raci [Miranda]. Crank has been on fire and she blasted that last one.
“I’m the happiest for Anna [Reimers]. She has kept preparing herself to be ready when her number was called and she came up huge for us today,” Hogue said.
Anna Reimers started as pitcher for Utah by stranding two runners in scoring position in the first inning. Kayla Lyon gave Utah an early lead with an RBI single in the second inning before Baylor responded with two runs. Reimers then limited Baylor’s offense by allowing only one hit over three frames. Proctor tied the score with her eleventh home run of the year in the third inning. In the fifth inning, Gomez hit her own eleventh home run of the season to give Utah back the lead.
After a weather delay lasting over an hour, Raci Miranda took over pitching duties in the sixth inning and maintained Utah’s lead by stranding two runners. In their final at-bat, Cian Noli drove in two runs with a single before Crank sealed victory with a three-run homerun. Miranda finished out pitching duties to secure her second save of the year.
The Utes will face Baylor again on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
