Sunday, May 1
Waco, Texas
12 PM
Baylor
27-21, 0
1
vs
6
Iowa State
24-25, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Iowa State
0
0
0
1
2
1
2
6
11
0
Baylor
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
SB Drops Series Finale Against Iowa State, 6-1
5/1/2022 4:17:00 PM | Softball
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Getting a start in right field and going 2-for-2 with an RBI out of the 9-hole, former Midway standout Rhein Trochim had a Senior Day to remember for Baylor softball in Sunday's series finale against Iowa State.
The problem is, the rest of the team was a combined 0-for-20 as the Bears (27-21, 5-10) suffered their second-straight 6-1 loss to the Cyclones (24-25, and dropped a series at Getterman Stadium that they couldn't afford to lose.
"As I keep saying, we need to win," said Baylor coach Glenn Moore, whose team came into the weekend with an RPI ranking of 56th, likely on the outside looking in for a potential NCAA regional bid. "This was a series we needed to win badly, and we didn't play well today. Unfortunately, we played the worst game we've played in a long time. That was disappointing."
Baylor wraps up the regular season with a split series next weekend against 17th-ranked Texas (35-15-1, 10-5), hosting the Longhorns Friday night and then playing the last two in Austin.
"I think we know how important this series is to us, it's pretty personal," said Trochim, a fifth-year senior transfer who played her first four years at Illinois. "We just have to come out this week, focus at practice and work as hard as we can to stay ready for Texas."
After winning their last two Big 12 series and nine of 11 games overall, the Bears struggled in the series against the Cyclones, scoring just three runs on 11 hits combined in the three games.
"It boils down to our offensive output, it's nowhere to be seen right now," Moore said. "We have an opportunity with the bases loaded and took a third strike. It's a mindset, I think. We're just not determined enough up there to make things happen."
The game's pivotal moment came in the third inning, when Trochim singled up the middle to break up Saya Swain's no-hitter, followed by back-to-back two-out walks by McKenzie Wilson and Emily Hott that loaded the bases.
With a chance to strike first, 3-hole hitter Aliyah Binford took a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch on the outside edge of the plate.
Baylor starter Dariana Orme (12-12) had a one-hit shutout through three, but the Cyclones scored in each of the next three innings and then broke it open with Mikayla Ramos' two-run homer in the seventh.
"I just have to tip my hat to the way they came to play today," Moore said. "They got better every day from Friday. They got smarter as hitters and made it more challenging, and we didn't get better each day."
Trailing 3-0, the Bears did get a run back in the bottom of the fifth. Zadie LaValley had a leadoff walk, with pinch-runner Grace Powell moving to second base on a groundout and third on a passed ball. Trochim came through with an RBI single through the right side to score Powell, but the rally fizzled out when Wilson lined into a double play.
"We came out there ready to play, we just came up short," Trochim said. "While I was out there, I was laying it all out for my team, doing everything I can to have Dari's back and my team's back."
Although Iowa State tacked on two runs to stretch its lead to 5-1, Baylor came up with a highlight-reel moment in the top of the fifth when LaValley threw out Carli Spelhaug trying to steal second base. Spelhaug was a perfect 43-for-43 on stolen base attempts in her career and was the only active Division I player with a perfect stolen-base percentage (with a minimum of 40 attempts).
Pitching in all three games, Spelhaugh gave up just one hit and faced the minimum in the last three innings to finish off the combined two-hitter with Swain (7-4).
Moore, who tried to recruit Trochim out of Midway, called her a "special kid."
"She comes to work every day and puts forth as much effort as anyone we've ever had at practice, trying to better her game," Moore said. "We asked her to move from outfield to playing an infield position that she's never played (first base), and she didn't blink an eye. . . . . I wish she would have been in the mix with a lot of hits, but for her to step up into the 9-hole and get our only two hits, I really was proud of her."
After the game, Trochim watched the senior video with her family – her mom, Shawn, is the athletic director at McLennan Community College; and her dad, Ed, is a retired softball and baseball coach.
"I didn't start my career here, but I always had dreams of being a Baylor Bear and playing for Coach Moore," Rhein said. "It was just so important for me to finish my career here, standing with my family, my fiancé and just watch the video. I'm just so thankful for everyone here in Waco."
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – Baylor softball fell in the series finale, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Getterman Stadium, as Iowa State took the series 2-1.
After a quick five-pitch top of the first and six-pitch bottom of the first, the Bears worked out of the second inning after the Cyclones hit a leadoff single.
Celebrating senior day, seniors Rhein Trochim and Kendall Cross each made starts for the Bears. Trochim, who was 2-for-2 on the day, singled for the first time in the bottom of the third with two outs. McKenzie Wilson and Emily Hott then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for the Bears' only real threat of the game, but a strikeout ended the inning before any runs came across.
Iowa State put up a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to take the 3-0 lead before the Bears were able to get one run back.
Zadie LaValley walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth before pinch runner Grace Powell came in and moved over to third on a groundout and passed ball. Trochim lined her second hit of the day up the middle to plate the Bears' lone run.
The Cyclones scored three more over the next two innings to take the 6-1 win, as the Bears weren't able to get any more baserunners.
HIGHLIGHTS
TOP QUOTES
Glenn Moore on the seniors…
"Obviously, Kendall (Cross) has been here the longest, and we appreciate her leadership and what she's brought to the team. She's worked hard to get some playing time. This year, she got in the game a good bit. So, I'm very, very happy with her and wish her the best. And of course, we've still got some games to play with her. But I'm appreciative of what she brought."
"Rhein (Trochim) we recruited her out of high school, and wanted her in green and gold. She went off to Illinois and got smart and came back. She's a special kid. She comes to work every day and puts forth as much effort as anyone we've ever had at practice, trying to better her game. We asked her to move from outfield to playing an infield position that she's never played, and didn't blink an eye. She went in and did her best to try to master that position. Look who comes through with hits today. On Senior Day, she's got our only two hits. I wish she would have been in the mix with a lot of hits. But for her to step up into the nine-hole and get our only two hits, I really was proud for her. I think she would say the same thing. You want to be able to play them on Senior Day. Fortunately, they had played enough for me this year to give me an opportunity to start them and stick with them most of the game."
Rhein Trochim on her performance today…
"As I was out there, we came out there ready to play. We just came up short, but while I was out there, I was laying it all out for my team doing everything I can to have Dariana's back, my team's back. This senior day is very important; it's very important to Kendall Cross as well, who has been here for four years now. So, it's just a roller coaster of emotions. As I got those hits, I was just like 'I'm doing everything I can to help my team.'"
Baylor Bear Insider
Getting a start in right field and going 2-for-2 with an RBI out of the 9-hole, former Midway standout Rhein Trochim had a Senior Day to remember for Baylor softball in Sunday's series finale against Iowa State.
The problem is, the rest of the team was a combined 0-for-20 as the Bears (27-21, 5-10) suffered their second-straight 6-1 loss to the Cyclones (24-25, and dropped a series at Getterman Stadium that they couldn't afford to lose.
"As I keep saying, we need to win," said Baylor coach Glenn Moore, whose team came into the weekend with an RPI ranking of 56th, likely on the outside looking in for a potential NCAA regional bid. "This was a series we needed to win badly, and we didn't play well today. Unfortunately, we played the worst game we've played in a long time. That was disappointing."
Baylor wraps up the regular season with a split series next weekend against 17th-ranked Texas (35-15-1, 10-5), hosting the Longhorns Friday night and then playing the last two in Austin.
"I think we know how important this series is to us, it's pretty personal," said Trochim, a fifth-year senior transfer who played her first four years at Illinois. "We just have to come out this week, focus at practice and work as hard as we can to stay ready for Texas."
After winning their last two Big 12 series and nine of 11 games overall, the Bears struggled in the series against the Cyclones, scoring just three runs on 11 hits combined in the three games.
"It boils down to our offensive output, it's nowhere to be seen right now," Moore said. "We have an opportunity with the bases loaded and took a third strike. It's a mindset, I think. We're just not determined enough up there to make things happen."
The game's pivotal moment came in the third inning, when Trochim singled up the middle to break up Saya Swain's no-hitter, followed by back-to-back two-out walks by McKenzie Wilson and Emily Hott that loaded the bases.
With a chance to strike first, 3-hole hitter Aliyah Binford took a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch on the outside edge of the plate.
Baylor starter Dariana Orme (12-12) had a one-hit shutout through three, but the Cyclones scored in each of the next three innings and then broke it open with Mikayla Ramos' two-run homer in the seventh.
"I just have to tip my hat to the way they came to play today," Moore said. "They got better every day from Friday. They got smarter as hitters and made it more challenging, and we didn't get better each day."
Trailing 3-0, the Bears did get a run back in the bottom of the fifth. Zadie LaValley had a leadoff walk, with pinch-runner Grace Powell moving to second base on a groundout and third on a passed ball. Trochim came through with an RBI single through the right side to score Powell, but the rally fizzled out when Wilson lined into a double play.
"We came out there ready to play, we just came up short," Trochim said. "While I was out there, I was laying it all out for my team, doing everything I can to have Dari's back and my team's back."
Although Iowa State tacked on two runs to stretch its lead to 5-1, Baylor came up with a highlight-reel moment in the top of the fifth when LaValley threw out Carli Spelhaug trying to steal second base. Spelhaug was a perfect 43-for-43 on stolen base attempts in her career and was the only active Division I player with a perfect stolen-base percentage (with a minimum of 40 attempts).
Pitching in all three games, Spelhaugh gave up just one hit and faced the minimum in the last three innings to finish off the combined two-hitter with Swain (7-4).
Moore, who tried to recruit Trochim out of Midway, called her a "special kid."
"She comes to work every day and puts forth as much effort as anyone we've ever had at practice, trying to better her game," Moore said. "We asked her to move from outfield to playing an infield position that she's never played (first base), and she didn't blink an eye. . . . . I wish she would have been in the mix with a lot of hits, but for her to step up into the 9-hole and get our only two hits, I really was proud of her."
After the game, Trochim watched the senior video with her family – her mom, Shawn, is the athletic director at McLennan Community College; and her dad, Ed, is a retired softball and baseball coach.
"I didn't start my career here, but I always had dreams of being a Baylor Bear and playing for Coach Moore," Rhein said. "It was just so important for me to finish my career here, standing with my family, my fiancé and just watch the video. I'm just so thankful for everyone here in Waco."
THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas – Baylor softball fell in the series finale, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Getterman Stadium, as Iowa State took the series 2-1.
After a quick five-pitch top of the first and six-pitch bottom of the first, the Bears worked out of the second inning after the Cyclones hit a leadoff single.
Celebrating senior day, seniors Rhein Trochim and Kendall Cross each made starts for the Bears. Trochim, who was 2-for-2 on the day, singled for the first time in the bottom of the third with two outs. McKenzie Wilson and Emily Hott then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for the Bears' only real threat of the game, but a strikeout ended the inning before any runs came across.
Iowa State put up a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to take the 3-0 lead before the Bears were able to get one run back.
Zadie LaValley walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth before pinch runner Grace Powell came in and moved over to third on a groundout and passed ball. Trochim lined her second hit of the day up the middle to plate the Bears' lone run.
The Cyclones scored three more over the next two innings to take the 6-1 win, as the Bears weren't able to get any more baserunners.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior Rhein Trochim went 2-for-2 at the plate, recording the Bears' only hits of the day and only RBI
- Pinch runner Grace Powell scored the only run
- Only four people reached base, with three Bears drawing walks
- Iowa State's Carli Spelhaug was a perfect 43-43 in stolen base attempts in her career before today when she was thrown out by catcher Zadie LaValley in the top of the fifth; she was the only active Division I player with a perfect stolen base percentage (min. 40 attempts)
TOP QUOTES
Glenn Moore on the seniors…
"Obviously, Kendall (Cross) has been here the longest, and we appreciate her leadership and what she's brought to the team. She's worked hard to get some playing time. This year, she got in the game a good bit. So, I'm very, very happy with her and wish her the best. And of course, we've still got some games to play with her. But I'm appreciative of what she brought."
"Rhein (Trochim) we recruited her out of high school, and wanted her in green and gold. She went off to Illinois and got smart and came back. She's a special kid. She comes to work every day and puts forth as much effort as anyone we've ever had at practice, trying to better her game. We asked her to move from outfield to playing an infield position that she's never played, and didn't blink an eye. She went in and did her best to try to master that position. Look who comes through with hits today. On Senior Day, she's got our only two hits. I wish she would have been in the mix with a lot of hits. But for her to step up into the nine-hole and get our only two hits, I really was proud for her. I think she would say the same thing. You want to be able to play them on Senior Day. Fortunately, they had played enough for me this year to give me an opportunity to start them and stick with them most of the game."
Rhein Trochim on her performance today…
"As I was out there, we came out there ready to play. We just came up short, but while I was out there, I was laying it all out for my team doing everything I can to have Dariana's back, my team's back. This senior day is very important; it's very important to Kendall Cross as well, who has been here for four years now. So, it's just a roller coaster of emotions. As I got those hits, I was just like 'I'm doing everything I can to help my team.'"
- BaylorBears.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Swain, Saya (7-4)
L: Orme, Dariana (12-12)
Batting:
2B: Ramos, Mikayla 1 ; Ochoa, Milaysia 2
HR: Ramos, Mikayla 1
RBI: Spelhaug, Carli 1 ; Ramos, Mikayla 3 ; Ranches, Alesia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Allen, Angelina 2 ; Ramos, Mikayla 1 ; Ochoa, Milaysia 1 ; Ramos, Skyler 1 ; Nelson, Lea 1
SB: Nelson, Lea 1
CS: Spelhaug, Carli 1
Batting:
RBI: Trochim, Rhein 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Powell, Grace 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
lf/1b
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
ss/p
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballUTIL
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
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