• Softball’s historic comeback clinches spot among NCAA final four

    softball-wcws-june14

    Baylor softball’s season came to a close Sunday, but not before the Lady Bears had completed the largest comeback in Women’s College World Series history and reached the NCAA semifinals for the second time in four years.

    [WCWS RECAPS & HIGHLIGHTS: Game 1 || Game 2 || Game 3 || Game 4]

    Saturday’s comeback victory is one for not only the Baylor recordbooks, but the WCWS history books. Facing elimination, the Lady Bears trailed Kentucky 7-0 with just two innings to go. UK’s ace was still dealing, having allowed just three hits through the first five innings (and only seven hits in 19 innings at the WCWS). No team had ever come back from such a deficit in the tournament’s 33-year history.

    Yet, there was Baylor, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut into the lead. There was Baylor, scoring two more in the seventh to make it 7-5, with runners on second and third but two outs. There was Baylor, getting down to its final strike before lacing a game-tying double to force extra innings. And there was Baylor, claiming an 8-7 victory in extra innings when an errant UK throw allowed the winning run to score from second.

    “I won’t forget that until I forget who I am,” said head coach Glenn Moore afterward. “God’s been good to us. … Baylor in all sports is on the rise, and has been for quite a while. … I’m just blessed to be a part of this program and great university, and I look forward to what the future holds.”

    The Lady Bears duplicated their best finish ever, matching the 2011 team by finishing among the last four teams standing. In a year that saw Baylor reach a BCS bowl, three Elite Eights and five Sweet 16s, Baylor softball made it farther than anyone. Forget the Year of the Bear; this is truly becoming the Decade of the Bear.

    Sic ’em, Baylor softball!