Rally Time! Softball Takes Two at Tournament

Softball 3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM

March 4, 2006

WACO, Texas --- Several key hits allowed the No. 18 Baylor softball team to rally from a pair of deficits as the Lady Bears claimed two wins at the Compass Bank Invitational on Saturday, rallying to defeat No. 13 Washington, 6-5, before Chelsi Lake's two home runs allowed BU to rally for a 3-2 win over Bowling Green. With the victories, Baylor extends its winning streak to seven and improves to 15-5 on the season.

In game one against the Huskies, Baylor fell behind early as Lisa Ferguson allowed her first runs of the tournament when Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the third inning.

Baylor cut the lead to one as the Lady Bears scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth to make the score 3-2. Lauren Parker put Baylor on the board first as she delivered a one-out double in the fourth to score Jordan Daniels and cut the lead to two. Tessa Lynam made the score 3-2 as she hustled to beat out an infield single, allowing Brette Reagan to score from third in the bottom of the fifth.

Washington extended the lead back to two runs with a run in the sixth; however, Baylor exploded for four runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 6-4 advantage. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Miriam Romero made the score 4-3 when she scored on a wild pitch with one out. Reagan then gave the Lady Bears the lead as she drilled a 3-0 pitch up the middle, scoring Harmony Schwethelm and Kelly Osburn as Baylor grabbed a 5-4 lead for its first lead of the game.

Chelsi Lake finished off the scoring in the inning when she added an important insurance run when she singled up the middle to score Reagan as the Lady Bears took a 6-4 lead heading into the seventh.

The RBI was Lake's 102nd of her career as she became Baylor's career leader in the category, surpassing Sarah Caudle who drove in 101 runs from 2000-2003.

Washington managed to score a run in the seventh and had a chance to tie the game when the Huskies had runners on first and second with two outs; however, Baylor second baseman Kylie Conroy made a diving catch on Caitlin Noble's line drive to preserve the Lady Bears third win over a ranked team this season.

Lynam picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season after recording the final two outs of the sixth inning.

Ferguson picked up her first save of the season after recording the final three outs; and, for the contest, allowed four runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Danielle Lawrie took the loss for Washington after allowing two runs on four hits in 0.2 innings of work to fall to 9-2 on the season.

Regan led the Lady Bears in the win, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Harmony Schwethelm also added three hits in the win and added a stolen base to push her career total to 93, surpassing Kim Wilmoth (2002-2005) as the career leader in the category.

In game two against Bowling Green, Baylor grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Lake blasted a solo home run to right-center field, her fourth of the season, as the Lady Bears grabbed a one-run lead.

Bowling Green then took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth; however, Lake would put the Lady Bears back on top in the sixth with her second home run of the contest. With two outs, Lake took a 1-0 rise ball and hit a towering two-run home run well over the left field wall, her fifth home run of the season, as Baylor grabbed a 3-2 lead.

After Baylor starter Brittany Turner gave way to Ferguson in the sixth with Bowling Green runners on first and third with only one out, the junior right-hander managed to retire the next two Falcons' batters to get out of the jam. Ferguson then retired the side in order in the seventh to record her second save of the day as Baylor picked up its third one-run win of the tournament.

Liz Vrabel pitched well for Bowling Green in the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of work to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Turner picked up her first career victory for Baylor as she improved to 1-2 on the year after allowing two unearned runs on four hits in 5.1 innings of work.

Lake tied a single-game school record with two home runs as she finished the game with two runs and three RBI.

Baylor will close out action at the tournament on Sunday, March 5, when the Lady Bears face No. 13 Washington at 11:00 a.m. before closing out the Compass Bank Invitational against Mississippi State at 3:00 p.m.

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