Feb. 6, 2009
Final Stats
Gainesville, Fla. -
Despite out-hitting No. 1 Florida 6-4, the Baylor softball team (0-1) fell to the Gators, 3-0 on Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Florida scored a pair of runs on two passed balls en route to the win.
Freshman pitcher Whitney Canion had a brilliant performance in her first career outing, going six innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out nine despite picking up the loss. Offensively, junior Courtney Oberg led the way with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
The Lady Bears threatened in the first after freshman Kayce Walker led off the inning with her first career hit, a chopper over the third baseman. Junior Nicole Wesley followed with a bunt single to put runners at first and second, and senior Alex Colyer laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with two outs. A groundout by Oberg ended the Baylor threat, stranding both runners. Canion fanned the first two batters she faced before getting a grounder to short to end the first.
Florida got on the board in the second after Francesca Enea got a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single by Tiffany DeFelice. Enea came around to score a few pitches later after a passed ball got away from Jordan Vannatta, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead. Canion battled back to limit the damage, getting three-straight outs to end the threat.
The Gators got another run in the third as Enea was intentionally walked with two runners on and two outs, but the fourth pitch got passed Vannatta, allowing the run to score from third, doubling the Florida advantage.
Baylor mounted another threat in the fourth, as Colyer singled to begin the inning and Oberg followed with a single of her own. Tiffany Wesley sacrificed Oberg and Colyer over and Weldon grounded out for two outs. Vannatta came to the plate and laced a shot towards first, only to see Ali Gardiner reach out her glove and make the third out.
Florida added their final run in the fourth, as Kelsey Bruder stepped up with two outs and hit the first pitch over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead. Stacey Nelson picked up the win for the Gators, throwing seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight.
Baylor and Florida will play game number two of the three-game series on Saturday at noon CST.
