An intense final inning at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California, saw the No. 22 Baylor Bears squander a five-run lead, only to rally in the bottom half of the inning to slip past Notre Dame 10-9.

Already leading by a run heading into the sixth inning, Baylor added four insurance runs and took the field with three outs between the Bears and their second win of the night at Big League Dreams Cathedral City. The nightcap was played at BLD's Wrigley Field.

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• Notre Dame Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know
• THE Spring Games Division I Preview: What To Know
• 2024 USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top 25
• Baylor Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know

An error, a walk and a handful of hits later, the game was tied 8-8, and Notre Dame had the bases loaded with nobody out. 

Baylor pitcher Aliyah Binford had started the inning, but was replaced by RyLee Crandall before the first out. Binford returned later in the inning with the game tied and was able to minimize any further damage.

The Fighting Irish took a 9-8 lead, before Binford was able to end the inning with a 1-2-3 double play.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Baylor welcomed new Notre Dame pitcher Shannon Becker with a pair of hits to fuel the game-winning rally.

McKenzie Wilson, who was 3 for 5 in the game with three runs and three RBIs, ended the night with a ground ball to second base that resulted in a play at home plate. Leah Cran was called safe with the game-winning run. 

Taylor Strain had scored the tying run moments earlier on a dropped pop fly, also to second base.

Strain and Cran each had two hits and two runs for the Bears. In all, Baylor had 14 hits, while leaving seven runners on base.

The Notre Dame offense manufactured 11 hits and runs in just two innings – three in the third to tie the game the first time and then six in the top of the seventh. The Irish stranded eight runners on base.

Becker, who did not record an out for Notre Dame, took the loss. She’s 0-3 on the season. She was one of three pitches in the circle for Notre Dame. Alexis Laudenslager started the game, going 5 1/3 innings, while giving up 10 hits and seven runs. She struck out six Bears.

Binford pitched four innings total and got the win to even her record for the year at 2-2. She originally entered the game in place of starter Dariana Orme, who left after three innings. Crandall did not record an out in her brief appearance.

Thursday’s meeting between Baylor and Notre Dame was the second time the two schools have faced each other. The first came in the 2019 Red Desert Classic, where the Irish run-ruled the Bears 14-1 in five innings.

Earlier Thursday, Baylor kicked off its 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 3-2 win over Oregon to get to 4-3 on the year. The Bears now are 5-3 after the win against Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish did not have luck on their side Thursday, as they opened their Mary Nutter experience with a 7-4 loss to Mississippi State. Notre Dame is 6-4 on the season.

Baylor and Notre Dame both will be back in action Friday for Day 2 of this year’s event.

The Irish will meet Oregon at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, and the Bears will face UC Riverside at 11:30 p.m. EST.

A year ago, Baylor opened its 2023 campaign with wins in 14 of its first 15 games, including a monumental 4-3 win over Oklahoma in February. That was the last game the Sooners lost. 

OU comes into this week’s event riding a record 62-game winning streak, but Baylor won’t have a chance to play spoiler again, as the two schools aren’t scheduled to meet in California.

While Oklahoma bounced back from that loss and went on to win a third consecutive national title, Baylor’s season wasn’t quite as memorable, though it was the Bears’ first 40-win campaign since 2017. 

The Bears finished 40-18 overall and 8-10 in the Big 12. Their season came to an end against Ole Miss in the regional portion of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 

Notre Dame bowed out of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in the same round, falling to Oregon and Arkansas (with a win over Harvard in between) in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

The Irish finished the year 30-19-1 overall and 11-12-1 in the ACC.

So far in 2024, Baylor has registered losses to No. 2 Tennessee (twice) and No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette (once), while also beating the latter twice in their three-game series. 

During its recent winning streak – five straight victories heading into the Mary Nutter – Notre Dame had outscored its opponents 32-11. 

Follow all the action live, as FloSoftball provides news and notes from all of the games at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Baylor Defeats Notre Dame At 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 10-9

Box Score

Resilient Baylor Responds In Final Inning, Defeats Notre Dame 10-9

Notre Dame brings in Shannon Becker to pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Taylor Strain welcomes her with a first-pitch single. Leah Cran follows with a double, sending Strain to third.

A dropped pop fly at second base allows Strain to score. Game tied 9-9. Runners on first and third with no outs.

Only fitting, the game ends with McKenzie Wilson at the plate. She hits a grounder to second, and the play comes home. Cran is safe, giving Baylor the win, 10-9.

Irish Fight Back In Top Of Seventh Inning Against Baylor, Score Six Runs To Take Lead

A single and an error give Notre Dame runners on second and third with no outs.

Karina Gaskins gets her third walk of the game to load the bases, still with no outs.

Addison Amaral singles up the middle to score Carlli Kloss. 

Jane Kronenberger singles to right field to score Tenley Sweet, who was running for Gaskins. Mickey Winchell also scores on the play. Baylor leads 8-6. Still no outs. Runners on first and third.

Aliyah Binford leaves the game for Baylor. RyLee Crandall comes on to pitch for the Bears.

Bryn Boznanski hits a double to score Amaral and sends Kronenberger to third. Still no outs. Baylor leads 8-7. Runners on second and third.

Cassidy Grimm is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tying run on third. Still no outs.

Anna Holloway singles to score Kronenberger. Game tied 8-8. Bases still loaded. Still no outs.

Aliyah Binford comes back in to pitch for Baylor. 

Bears get a force out at home. Bases still loaded. One out.

Kloss hits her second single of the inning, this time scoring Grimm. Notre Dame leads 9-8.

Baylor ends the inning with a 1-2-3 double play.

The Fighting Irish lead 9-8 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Baylor Adds Four Runs With Small Ball In Bottom Of Sixth Inning Against Notre Dame

A single and a walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning were helped by a sacrifice bunt to give Baylor runners on second and third with one out.

McKenzie Wilson delivers her third hit of the game, this time a two-run single to score Taylor Strain and Leah Cran. Baylor leads 6-3.

Alexis Laudenslager leaves the game for Notre Dame. She is replaced in the circle by Kami Kamzik.

Wilson steals second base to get into scoring position. 

Shaylon Govan comes up big again, knocking a double past the third baseman to score Wilson. Baylor leads 7-3.

Ana Watson comes in to run for Govan and scores from second on an error by the shortstop. Baylor leads 8-3.

Sydney Collazos singles to put runners on first and second with two outs. 

The inning ends with a grounder to first base. Baylor leads 8-3 heading into final inning.

Notre Dame Strands Runner At Third To End Sixth Inning Against Baylor

Notre Dame worked a runner around the bases, but she was stranded on third base, as Aliyah Binford struck out Emily Tran to end the inning. 

Baylor Softball Falls Short With Bases Loaded In Sixth Inning

Aliyah Binford also is getting things done at the plate Thursday for Baylor. She pops a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Caroline Rowatt comes in to run for Binford. 

Shaylon Govan who homered in the third inning, walks to put runners on first and second with one out.

ND's Alexis Laudenslager strikes out Emily Hott, then hits Sydney Collazos to load the bases. 

A strikeout ends the inning. Baylor scores none, strands three.

Bears lead 4-3 heading into the top of the sixth inning.

Binford, Baylor Stop Notre Dame Softball In Top Of Fifth Inning

Aliyah Binford gets back-to-back strikeouts to shut down Notre Dame in top of fifth inning. 

Baylor Plates Another Run Against Notre Dame Softball

A pair of singles (Shannon Vivoda and Leah Cran) and some mishandling of the ball by Notre Dame allow Baylor to add a run, as Vivoda comes around to score. Baylor leads 4-3.

Cran is thrown out at home. She broke for the plate when the ND catcher threw down to second base.

Notre Dame Threatens, Doesn't Score In Top Of Fourth Inning Against Baylor

Aliyah Binford comes in to pitch for Baylor, replacing starter Dariana Orme.

Notre Dame puts a running on with a two-out walk of Emily Tran, and this brings up the top of the lineup. 

Carlli Kloss singles for the Irish.

Inning ends. Notre Dame strands two. Game tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Watch Shaylon Govan's Two-Run Blast For Baylor

With one swing, Shaylon Govan tied the Bears' game against Notre Dame:

she's sooooooo back 😮‍💨

>> https://t.co/IfAXGtIMBq #SicEm | @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/TJwSnhppVm

— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) February 23, 2024

Baylor Answers With Two Runs In Bottom Of Third Inning Against Notre Dame

McKenzie Wilson doubles to left field to get things moving for Baylor in the bottom of the third inning.

Aliyah Binford strikes out for the second out of the inning.

Shaylon Govan ties the game with a two-run home run to left center. It's her first homer of the 2024 season. 

Inning ends, game tied 3-3.

Notre Dame Scores Three In Third Inning To Take Lead Against Baylor Softball

Notre Dame was able to load the bases with one out. A combination of base hits and walks gave the Irish the momentum they needed.

Anna Holloway opened the inning with a single. Emily Tran was hit by a pitch. Mickey Winchell hit a single to load the bases. 

Karina Gaskins walks to score Holloway. The game is tied 1-1.

A sac fly from Addison Amaral scores Tran. Notre Dame leads 2-1.

Jane Kronenberger delivers a two-out infield single to score Winchell. Notre Dame leads 3-1.

Baylor ends the inning, Notre Dame strands two. Irish lead 3-1.

Fighting Irish Get 1-2-3 Second Inning Against Baylor

Notre Dame slowed the Baylor momentum and retired the Bears in order in the second inning.

ND coming up, Baylor leads 1-0.

Notre Dame Scoreless Through Two Innings Against Baylor Softball

The Baylor defense continues to get the job done behind starting pitcher Dariana Orme, who is making her first start of the year.

Orme had surgery last year to address thoracic outlet syndrome, but the rehab had been taking longer than expected. 

She has not allowed a hit through two innings and has struck out two ND batters. 

Baylor Opens Scoring Against Notre Dame At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

A leadoff single by McKenzie Wilson gave Baylor some early momentum against Norte Dame. 

Wilson immediately advanced to second base on an error, moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Shaylon Govan and scored on a two-out single by Emily Hott.

Hott gets stranded at first. Baylor leads 1-0.

Baylor Lineup For Meeting With Notre Dame At 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

See who's starting for Baylor against the Fighting Irish:

Game ✌️ is underway! #SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/T75NSNfOuP

— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) February 23, 2024

Defense Helps Baylor Keep Notre Dame Scoreless In Top Of First Inning

With help from the Baylor defense, Dariana Orme is able to keep Notre Dame scoreless in the top of the first inning. This is the first start of the season for Orme.

Notre Dame-Baylor Softball Game Underway At 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Baylor, which just picked up a 3-2 win over No. 25 Oregon, is the home team for this matchup with Notre Dame. 

The Fighting Irish are coming off a 7-4 loss to Mississippi State earlier Thursday at the Mary Nutter.

Ace Dariana Orme is in the circle for Baylor. Alexis Laudenslager will be the starter for ND.

When Is The Notre Dame Vs. Baylor Softball Game?

Notre Dame will take on Baylor at Wrigley Field, part of Big League Dreams Cathedral City in Cathedral City, California, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.

How To Watch The Notre Dame Vs. Baylor Softball Game

Watch the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on FloSoftball and the FloSports app.

FloSoftball is streaming several NCAA Division I college softball tournaments, including the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, THE Spring Games and the recent Candrea Classic.

This And That: Baylor Softball

Baylor’s opponents at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic will be Missouri, UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame and UC Riverside. The Bears last competed in the event in 2022, going 2-2.

Baylor head coach Glenn Moore entered the 2024 campaign 19 wins shy of 900 with the Bears. During the 2023 season, he won his 1,000th game overall.

Baylor pitcher Dariana Orme is on the USA Softball Top 50 Player of the Year Watch List for 2024. Last season, she had a Baylor-best 1.92 ERA and 126 strikeouts.

Notre Dame Softball Lineup For Meeting With Baylor At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

See who's starting for the Fighting Irish against the Baylor Bears:

Tonight's starting lineup as we take on Baylor

🖥️ https://t.co/kk72h4IjvO ($)
📊 https://t.co/2vmfjvR5Bp#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/BsNFvH8gSw

— Notre Dame Softball (@NDsoftball) February 23, 2024

This And That: Notre Dame Softball

Notre Dame opened its 2024 season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, and posted a 3-2 record in the event.

The Fighting Irish headed a few hours northeast and continues their campaign at the Jacksonville/University of North Florida Invitational, where they were 3-0, before inclement weather canceled their final game at the event.

Notre Dame lost to Mississippi State 7-4 in its first game at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. 

USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll

The latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll came out this week, and Oklahoma continues its stranglehold on the top spot.

The Sooners, who entered the 2024 on a 53-game winning streak, are 9-0 to start the new campaign.

Baylor, previous ranked No. 24 in this poll, has fallen out of the top 25 but remained in the “others receiving votes” category.

Click HERE to see the complete rankings. 

About Big League Dreams Cathedral City

The Big League Dreams Sports Parks are scattered throughout the United States and provide recreational and tournament players of all ages the chance to compete on world-class fields, often built as replicas of famous stadiums from the storied history of Major League Baseball.

Along with the nostalgic fields, the Big League Dreams venues include a restaurant and bar, batting cages, play area for children, stadium seating and space for other sports (hockey, soccer, sand volleyball), events and competitions. 

Big League Dreams Cathedral City was the first of the eight BLD properties to open, doing so in 1998. The park includes five fields. Among them, Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and New York’s Yankee Stadium.

2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Schedule

All times Eastern

Thursday, Feb. 22

Wrigley Field

• Rutgers vs. Hawaii, 3 p.m.
• Oregon vs. Central Florida, 5:30 p.m.
• Oregon vs. Baylor, 8 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Baylor 10:30 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Bethune Cookman vs. BYU, 3 p.m.
• Bethune Cookman vs. Oregon State, 5:30 p.m.
• San Diego State vs. Missouri, 8 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Missouri, 10:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Oregon State vs. Wisconsin 2:30 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Mississippi State, 5 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Rutgers 7:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. BYU 10 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Mississippi State vs. Central Florida 2 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23

Wrigley Field

• San Diego State vs. Nebraska, 1 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Northwestern, 6 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State, 8:30 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. Wisconsin, 11 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Hawaii vs. Fresno State, 1:30 p.m.
• Hawaii vs. California, 4 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Oregon, 6:30 p.m.
• Long Beach State vs. Oregon, 9 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. Oregon State, 11:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Rutgers vs. Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m.
• Tennessee vs. Loyola Marymount, 3:30 p.m.
• Tennessee vs. CSU Fullerton, 6 p.m.
• Missouri vs. Central Florida, 8:30 p.m.
• Missouri vs. CSU Fullerton, 11 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Seattle University vs. CSU Northridge, 1 p.m.
• Utah vs. CSU Northridge, 3:30 p.m.
• Bethune Cookman vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. Utah, 11 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• Illinois vs. California, 1:30 p.m.
• Cal Poly vs. Rutgers, 3 p.m.
• Long Beach State vs. BYU, 6:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Seattle, 9 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Baylor, 11:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24

Wrigley Field

• Oregon vs. Nebraska, 1 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. San Diego State, 3:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Illinois, 6 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Baylor, 8:30 p.m.
• Missouri vs. Baylor, 11 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Seattle vs. California, 12:30 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Notre Dame, 3 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Tennessee, 5:30 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. Tennessee, 8 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. University of San Diego, 10:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Northwestern vs. Loyola Marymount, 10 a.m.
• Northwestern vs. University of San Diego, 3:30 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Utah, 6 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Utah, 8:30 p.m.
• Rutgers vs. BYU 11 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Cal vs. Illinois, 12:30 p.m.
• CSU Fullerton vs. Utah, 3 p.m.
• CSU Fullerton vs. Mississippi State, 5:30 p.m.
• Cal Poly vs. BYU, 8 p.m.
• Mississippi State vs. Fresno State, 10:30 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• CSU Northridge vs. Bethune Cookman, 12:30 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Long Beach State, 3 p.m.
• CSU Northridge vs. Rutgers, 2:30 p.m.
• Loyola Marymount vs. Bethune Cookman 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Wrigley Field

• Seattle vs. Oklahoma, noon
• Loyola Marymount vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Nebraska vs. Utah, noon
• Nebraska vs. CSU Fullerton, 2:30 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. UC Riverside, 5 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Oregon State vs. Northwestern, noon
• Tennessee vs. Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.
• Fresno State vs. Cal Poly, 5 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Illinois vs. Hawaii, 11:30 a.m.
• Fresno State vs. Long Beach State, 2:30 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• California vs. Long Beach State, noon
• California vs. Cal Poly, 2:30 p.m.

Who Was Mary Nutter?

Mary Nutter was an All-American softball player and a pioneer in the sport. 

She was a coach at Pittsburgh State and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

Nutter died in 2012. 

Watch 2024 College Softball On FloSoftball

FloSoftball is your home to some of the top college softball tournaments in the country, as well as conference softball games from a varsity of conferences. Some of the tournaments streaming live on FloSoftball include: 

• Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
• 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
• 2024 FAU Paradise Classic
• 2024 Elon Phoenix Tournament
• 2024 Candrea Classic
• 2024 Mark Campbell Collegiate Invitational
• 2024 THE Spring Games Opening Weekend

FloSoftball Archived Footage

Video footage from past seasons is archived and stored in a video library for FloSoftball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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