The second-to-last NCAA tournament game before the championships begin in Oklahoma City was arguably the craziest yet, with Baylor's Shelby McGlaun leaving the home crowd at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium absolutely stunned with a seventh-inning, game-winning three-run homer.
That was how No. 2 Arizona's season came to an end, from three outs away from celebrating a Super Regional win and trip to the championships to shaking their heads and wondering what just happened.
BOOOOM! @BaylorSoftball with a 3 RUN HR to take the 6-5 lead in T7! pic.twitter.com/rht8ttCsGw
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 29, 2017
The game featured several ties and lead changes, with a furious Arizona rally in the fifth and sixth innings putting the Wildcats in position to win it. But a leadoff double followed by an intentional walk to start the seventh put the go-ahead run at the plate in McGlaun, and she delivered with a rocket to dead center on a 2-0 pitch.
The dramatic blast capped off a great day for the freshman, who went 3-for-4 with a double and the homer.
LADY BEARS WIN! #BUSB is OKC BOUND!!! So. Much. #SICEM!!!! pic.twitter.com/puFh48hlde
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 29, 2017
The Bears held a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth thanks to a third-inning two-run blast by Shelby Friudenberg, but a pair of Arizona singles in the fifth knotted it up and a leadoff triple in the sixth led to two more runs.
The Wildcats made things interesting in the final frame thanks to three straight walks, but a fortuitous bounce on a wild pitch enabled Baylor catcher Sydney Christensen to gun down the runner trying to advance. Starting pitcher Kelsee Selman then reentered the game, got the two needed outs, and Baylor began planning its trip to Oklahoma's capital city.
A HEATER by Sydney Christensen gives Baylor its first out! pic.twitter.com/hasyNMJSs7
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 29, 2017
The Bears became the fourth team of the seven completed Super Regionals to drop Game 1 but come back to win the next two after Florida did it at home and LSU and Texas A&M did it on the road.
Notably, Arizona's loss marked the end of the road for senior Katiyana Mauga, who wraps up her illustrious college career with 92 home runs, just three shy of Lauren Chamberlain's all-time record.
