March 11, 2005
Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The No. 9 Baylor softball team recorded its 25th win of the season in action at Edward C. Moore Field, defeating Northern Illinois 7-0 to improve to 3-0 at the Speedline Classic. With the win, Baylor improved to 25-3 on the season as Northern Illinois fell to 7-5 on the season with the loss.
After a scoreless first four innings, Baylor took advantage of two Northern Illinois errors in the fifth to grab the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Kelly Osburn hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Jordan Daniels from third and give the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead. Harmony Schwethelm then followed with a two-run two RBI single up the middle, scoring April Luce and Kylie Conroy as Baylor grabbed a three-run lead.
Chelsi Lake then added an insurance run in the sixth inning with a solo blast well over the left-center field wall, her ninth of the season, as Baylor grabbed a 4-0 lead.
Lake then moved into second-place all-time in Baylor history with her 10th home run of the season, a three run blast over the left-center field wall in the seventh inning to make the score 7-0 lead. The home run was the 27th of the season for the Lady Bears, tying the 2002 squad for most home runs in a single season.
For the game, Lake went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI to lead the Lady Bears attack.
Lisa Ferguson improved to 9-1 on the season for the Lady Bears as she allowed no runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of work. The right-hander worked out of several jams throughout the contest as the Huskies left seven runners on base through the first five innings.
Tessa Lynam and Sarah Hausner worked the final 2.1 innings of relief as Baylor improved on its best start in school history.
Kathy Dearborn took the loss for Northern Illinois, allowing four runs on four hits in five-plus innings of work for the Huskies.
Baylor will look to complete round-robin action at the Speedline Classic undefeated when the Lady Bears face UCF at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 12. The winner of the contest will advance to the championship round of the Speedline Classic, to be held on Sunday, March 13.
