Feb. 27, 2009
Box Score
WACO -
The No. 24 Baylor softball team (14-3 overall) outscored its opponents 15-1, as the Lady Bears defeated Louisiana Monroe, 8-0 (6-12 overall) in five innings and then took care of Rutgers, 7-1 (1-5 overall) on day one of the QTI Invitational at Getterman Stadium.
The victories bring the Baylor win streak to eight in-a-row, as BU has taken 15 of its last 16 games.
"These were two very good performances for our ballclub," head coach Glenn Moore said. "I thought we did a great job of jumping ahead in game one, and also did very well of answering back in the second game."
In game two the Lady Bears found themselves down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but answered back with five runs in the fifth, including a grand slam off the bat of Jordan Vannatta. The blast was the first of her career and the first Baylor grand slam since Brette Reagan did so on Feb. 23, 2008.
Shaina Brock (4-1) picked up the complete game effort, allowing four hits, one run and tying a career-high with seven strikeouts.
Brock held Rutgers hitless until the Scarlet Knights got on the board in the top of the fifth with a leadoff solo home run to left center by Kim Hodges.
Trailing 1-0, Baylor came back with Courtney Oberg leading off with a single and advancing to second when Alex Colyer reached on an error. With one out, Meagan Weldon reached on an error by the pitcher, loading the bases for Vannatta's slam. With two outs, Kayce Walker singled to the pitcher and advanced to second on an errant throw to first by the pitcher, allowing Tiffany Wesley to score from second and giving BU a 5-1 lead.
The Lady Bears brought two more runs across the plate in the sixth, as Reagan led off with a single and stole second to get into scoring position. Colyer singled to bring Reagan to third, then, got herself in a rundown trying to steal second and forced a bad throw from the catcher, allowing Reagan to come home. Megan Turk approached the plate as a pinch hitter and singled to bring Colyer around, making it 7-1.
Brock shut the door in the seventh, giving BU the win.
Game One
Baylor notched runs in each of the first four innings, run-ruling ULM, 8-0 in five innings.
Whitney Canion (8-2) picked up another win, allowing three hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Tiffany Wesley went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, and Reagan went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way offensively, while Colyer and Bree Hanafin registered two hits apiece.
The Lady Bears scored three in the first, beginning with an RBI-single from Reagan, scoring Walker. The next two runs came on Warhawk mistakes, with Oberg scoring on the second of what would be six illegal pitches in the game for ULM. The final run of the inning came with Nicole Wesley reaching on an error by the second baseman, scoring Colyer.
Baylor scored a pair in the second as Hanafin hit a one-out double to left center and advanced to third on a T. Wesley single, scoring on another illegal pitch. With Wesley at third, Walker hit a sac fly to left to give BU a 5-0 lead.
Two more runs crossed in the third when Colyer led off with a double to right and advanced to third on an illegal pitch, eventually scoring when Weldon reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. Hanafin then launched a double to left center, scoring Weldon for a 7-0 advantage.
The Lady Bears scored their eighth and final run with Reagan notching another RBI-single to score T. Wesley from second in the fourth.
Baylor is now 25-2 all-time at the QTI Invitational and will be back in action beginning at 3:00 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana Tech, followed by a rematch with Rutgers at 5:30 p.m.
