April 22, 2006
Box Score
STILLWATER, Okla. - Ashley Monceaux blasted two home runs and recorded five RBI as a four-run third inning proved to be the difference as the No. 19 Baylor softball team out-lasted Oklahoma State, 8-6, in action at Cowgirl Stadium. With the win, Baylor improves to 32-17 overall, 9-5 in Big 12 Conference play as Oklahoma State falls to 19-23, 5-9 in conference play wit the loss.
The Lady Bears jumped on the Cowgirls early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early 3-0 lead. After Harmony Schwethelm tripled down the left field line with one out, freshman Brette Reagan delivered a single up the middle to score Schwethelm and give the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead.
Monceaux put the final touches on the inning as she took a 3-2 pitch and smashed a home run over the left center field fence, her fifth home run of the season, scoring Reagan to give the Lady Bears a three-run advantage.
The Cowgirls answered with a pair of runs in the first; however, to cut the lead to one. Ashleigh Tweed delivered a home run to center field as Courtney Totte scored on a sacrifice fly as the Lady Bears took a one-run lead into the second inning.
After Baylor was unable to score in the top of the second, Oklahoma State tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Ashlyn Watson delivered a RBI single to tie the game.
Despite the Oklahoma State rally, Baylor responded with a four-run third, highlighted by Monceaux's second home run of the game, a towering three-run home run over the left-center field wall to make the score 6-3. The home run was the junior transfer's sixth of the season and was Baylor's 58th of the year, establishing a new school record for most home runs in a season (2005, 57).
Baylor added an unearned run when Kelly Osburn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as the Lady Bears took a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth when the Cowgirls scored a pair of runs, one unearned, to cut the lead to 7-5. Baylor would add an insurance run in the seventh as Kylie Conroy tripled off the top of the right field wall and scored on a fielding error on the play as the Lady Bears took an 8-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Oklahoma State would score an unearned run in the seventh; however, Baylor starting pitcher Lisa Ferguson re-entered the game and recorded the final out with a runner on third to pick up her fourth save of the season as the Lady Bears picked up an 8-6 victory.
Ashley Monceaux picked up the victory for Baylor after tossing three innings of relief, allowing only one run on three hits as she improved to 5-3 on the season.
Jessica Hoppock took the loss and fell to 12-17 on the year after allowing eight runs on nine hits in seven innings of work.
Baylor will go for the series sweep when the teams conclude the two-game series on Sunday, April 23, at 1:00 p.m.
