March 25, 2006

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Lisa Ferguson's fifth shutout of the season led the No. 19 Baylor softball team to a 1-0 victory over Texas Tech as the Lady Bears picked up their first Big 12 Conference win of the season on Saturday. With the victory, Baylor snaps a seven-game losing skid and improves to 19-13 on the season, 1-1 in the conference, while Texas Tech falls to 11-20, 0-1 in Big 12 play with the loss.

Both starting pitchers controlled the contest as neither team was able to put a run on the board through the first four innings.

The Lady Bears put the game's only run on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Ashley Monceaux doubled down the left field line to start the Baylor rally. Monceaux came around to score when Miriam Romero singled on a bunt as the throw down to first sailed into right field, allowing Monceaux to score easily on the throwing error to give Baylor the 1-0 lead.

Ferguson managed to keep the Red Raiders off the board in the final two innings; however, the junior pitcher received a little help from the Baylor defense to preserve the shutout. With a runner on first and two outs in the top of the sixth, Texas Tech's Brandy Moulin lifted a deep fly ball to center field. Romero had a bead on the ball and made a running, over-the-shoulder catch up against the wall to end the inning to keep the score 1-0.

Ferguson did the rest of the work for Baylor, retiring the side in order in the seventh as the junior improved to 10-6 on the season after allowing only four hits while striking out six in seven innings of work.

Erin Crawford pitched well in the loss for Texas Tech, allowing one unearned runs and five hits in six innings of work as she fell to 6-9 on the season.

The win was the fifth straight in the series for Baylor as the Lady Bears improved to 28-7 all-time against the Red Raiders.

Baylor will look to pick up the sweep when the two teams conclude the series with a single game on Sunday, March 26, beginning at 1:00 p.m.