April 29, 2006
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Ashley Monceaux delivered a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh as the No. 18 Baylor softball team won a pitcher's duel with Iowa State, defeating the Cyclones, 1-0, in action at Getterman Stadium on Saturday. With the win, Baylor improves to 35-17 overall, 11-5 in Big 12 Conference play, while Iowa State falls to 23-24, 5-10 in conference play with the loss.
"Lisa (Ferguson) worked out of some tough situations and pitched extremely well when she had to," head coach Glenn Moore said. "It was a hard fought win and tough wins like this will continue to build the team's confidence as we close out the regular season and head into post-season play."
Although the game remained scoreless heading into the final inning of play, both starting pitchers worked out of a couple of early jams to keep the opposing team off the scoreboard. In the fourth inning, Iowa State put runners at first and second with nobody out; however, Ferguson responded by forcing two pop outs in the infield before getting out of the jam on a grounder by Stephanie Mosley to third to end the inning.
Baylor's best chance to score before the seventh came in the fifth as Monceaux led off the inning with a single before Kylie Conroy was hit by a pitch, giving the Lady Bears runners at first and second with no outs. Iowa State pitcher Alyssa Ransom got out of the jam; however, by coaxing a double play ball and a pop out as the game remained scoreless heading into the final innings.
After Ferguson shut down the Cyclones in the top of the seventh, Baylor managed the only run of the game in the bottom of the inning to pick up the victory. With one out, Chelsi Lake singled to center field and was replaced by pinch-runner Alex Colyer. After Colyer advanced to second on a balk, Monceaux delivered the game-winning hit to right field as Colyer beat the throw home to give the Lady Bears the 1-0 victory.
The win was the 11th conference victory of the season for the Lady Bears, tying the school record for most conference wins set by the 2004 and 2005 teams.
Ferguson picked up her fifth shutout of the conference season and ninth of the year as the junior improved to 17-11 overall after allowing only three hits while striking out five in seven innings of work.
Ransom was the tough-luck loser for Iowa State as she fell to 12-14 on the season after allowing one run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work. Monceaux and Lake each collected two hits for the Lady Bears in the victory as Baylor improved to 9-8 all-time against the Cyclones.
The victory assured the Lady Bears of at least a fourth-place finish in the Big 12 Conference standings.
Baylor will look for the two-game series sweep when the teams conclude the series with a single game on Sunday, April 30, at 12:00 p.m. Prior to the contest, Baylor will honor seniors Sarah Hausner, Tessa Lynam, Kelly Osburn and Harmony Schwethelm as a part of "Senior Day."
