March 5, 2004
Clearwater, Fla. -Baylor left-handed pitcher Cristin Vitek pitched the second no-hitter of the season for the Lady Bears, and first complete game no-hitter of her career, as she helped extend a season-long winning streak to 11 as Baylor defeated Boston 6-0 in action at the Speedline Classic. In the night's second game, Baylor lost to Team USA in an exhibition game, 10-0 in five innings.
After walking the first batter of the game, Vitek was perfect the rest of the way, retiring the next 21 batters to record only the eighth no-hitter for Baylor since the program was re-instated in 1996.
With two outs in the seventh, Vitek completed the gem when Kim Wilmoth fielded a ball hit up the middle by Boston first-baseman Ally and threw to April Luce for the final out.
Baylor scored all the runs it needed in the first inning, as the Lady Bears put two runs on the board to grab an early 2-0 lead.
Kelly Osburn started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Kelly Levesque to score easily for the first run of the game. Baylor made it 2-0 on the next pitch, as Harmony Schwethelm scored on a passed ball to extend the lead.
Carrying a two-run lead into the second, the Lady Bears put the game away with three in the inning for a 5-0 lead. Melissa Maler opened the inning by blasting the first home run of her career in a Baylor uniform over the center field fence.
Leading 3-0, Baylor added two more runs in the inning as Amber Daniel scored on a throwing error by the shortstop and Kim Wilmoth scored on a wild pitch to give the Lady Bears a 5-0.
Baylor completed the scoring with a single run in the third inning as Maler drove home her second run of the game when her single to left field scored Carrie Leerberg.
Up 6-0, Vitek retired the next 12 Boston batters in the fourth through seventh innings to complete the no-hitter. It was third no-hitter Vitek had been a part of; however, it was her first complete game no-hitter of her career. Baylor's Lisa Ferguson recorded the first no-hitter for the Lady Bears this season with her 1-0 victory over Auburn at the Getterman Classic.
With the victory, Vitek (11-2) recorded her 11th victory on the season while striking out 11 batters.
Williams picked up the loss for Boston, allowing six runs on five hits in three innings of work.
Baylor now stands 18-5 on the season after the team's 11th straight victory, the longest winning streak since the 2002 team won 13 games in a row.
In the nightcap, the Lady Bears fell to Team USA 10-0 in a game shortened to five innings.
Baylor did have some impressive moments during the exhibition game against the team that will represent the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games; however, as Maler continued her impressive day by going two for two at the plate, including a double, against Team USA starting pitcher Catherine Osterman.
Natasha Watley led the way for Team USA, going three for three on the day with three runs scored.
Ferguson took the loss for Baylor, as she allowed seven earned runs in four innings of work.
Since the exhibition contest does not count against the team's record, Baylor will put its 11-game winning streak on the line tomorrow, as the Lady Bears will continue play at the Speedline Classic with contests against Northern Illinois and Tennessee-Chattanooga. First pitch against the Huskies is 12:00 p.m. (CST) with Baylor to face UTC at 2:00 p.m.
