March 7, 2008
Final Stats
Clearwater, Fla. -
The Baylor Lady Bears (14-4 overall) earned an 8-2 win over ETSU a day after it began, but fell to Michigan State, 6-1 in eight innings on Friday at the USF Under Armour Invitational.
The first game was halted for an hour one batter into the game due to rain before play continued.
Baylor got on the board first in the top of the second, but running errors limited its amount of runs. Jordan Daniels led off with a single, but was called out a few pitches later after leaving early from first. Nicole Wesley then singled and stole second before Alex Colyer knocked a single to left. Wesley was caught trying to steal third, however, but Colyer moved to second and into scoring position. That allowed Taylor Marcum to rip a double into right center, scoring Colyer, and giving the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead.
Baylor got another run in the top of the third as Courtney Oberg singled on a bunt and moved to second on another Daniels single. N. Wesley brought Oberg around to score to give the Lady Bears a 2-0 lead.
ETSU answered in the bottom of the third as Isham hit the first batter and then gave up a bunt single to third. An error allowed the runner from second to score, and an RBI single two batters later tied the game at two.
With rain coming down, the game was called for the day and picked back up Friday morning, beginning in the fourth.
Baylor put all thoughts of an ETSU win to rest with a six-run fifth inning.
Brette Reagan reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second after Oberg grounded into a fielder's choice. With Morgan Craig pinch running for Reagan, Jordan Daniels laced a triple down the right field line to bring Craig and Oberg around to score for a 4-2 lead.
Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, KJ Freeland singled to clear the bases and was brought around to score after a Shortridge single to make the score 8-2.
Jenny Isham (7-1) picked up the win, throwing five innings, giving up six hits, one earned run and four strikeouts. Shortridge came in for the final two innings, walking two and striking out a pair.
In game two, Baylor took the early lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Reagan led off with a single, and was brought around to score after a Nicole Wesley triple.
Michigan State tied the game in the fifth after a runner reached on an error and came around to score on a double.
With the game tied at one, the contest went into extra innings, where the Spartans put the game away. With the bases loaded and one out, the MSU batter grounded to third allowing Reagan to get the runner at home. Oberg fired the ball to first for the double play, but the throw went wide of Daniels glove at first, allowing a run to score.
After a walk, the bases were loaded again and Michigan State's Gina Mondo hit a grand slam to put the Spartans up 6-1.
The Lady Bears went in order in the eighth to end the game.
Brittany Turner (3-2) took the loss, despite giving up just four hits and no earned runs.
Baylor will play Illinois-Chicago at 8:30 a.m. and Coastal Carolina at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday as play continues at the USF Under Armour Invitational.
