March 12, 2009

Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Baylor softball team (20-10 overall) snapped a six-game losing streak with a pair of five-inning run rules over Northwestern State (3-20) on Thursday afternoon at Demon Diamond in Natchitoches, La. The Lady Bears took game one, 11-0 and won 9-1 in game two.

Baylor combined for 20 runs on 24 hits, while the Lady Bear pitching staff held the Demonds to one run on three hits in the doubleheader.

Whitney Canion (11-8) picked up the complete-game shutout in game one, going five innings, allowing two hits, walking three and striking out 12. Offensively, Kayce Walker went 6-for-7 with two triples on the day, while Alex Colyer recorded four hits with three RBI, including a two-run home run. Bree Hanafin finished with five RBI after recording two home runs, one in each contest.

For the third-straight game, Baylor struck first, scoring twice in the top of the first. Kayce Walker reached first with a single, and with two outs, Bree Hanafin delivered a two-run blast over right center for a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Bears busted the game open in the second with a seven-run inning as 10-straight runners reached safely. Meagan Weldon led off with a double and came around to score as Jordan Vannatta reached on an error. Megan Turk followed by reaching on an error of her own, scoring Vannatta. Tiffany Wesley, Kayce Walker and Alex Colyer all singled, and Bree Hanafin loaded the bases with a walk. Sydney Wilson walked for an RBI, making it 7-0. A Nicole Wesley single made it 8-0 and the final run scored as Weldon reached on a dropped fly ball to center, scoring Hanafin.

Two more runs scored, as Walker singled to shortstop to lead off the inning, setting up a Colyer for a two-run smash over left to give Baylor an 11-0 lead.

Canion faced one threat in the bottom of the fifth, but the freshman got out of a bases loaded jam with no outs, recording two strikeouts and a pop up.

Game Two

Shaina Brock (6-2) won game two, allowing one hit and striking out six in three innings of work.

The Lady Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, as T. Wesley singled and came around to score on a triple by Walker, who came in on a sac fly by Bree Hanafin.

Three more runs crossed in the third, as Walker started things with two outs, notching her second triple of the game. Colyer singled to bring Walker in before Hanafin powered her second home run of the day for a 5-0 lead.

A wild pitch brought Turk in to score in the fourth, but Northwestern State got a run of their own, with Stormi Stech scoring on a fielder's choice, sliding under the tag at home.

Baylor recorded all the runs it would need for its second run rule, scoring three in the fifth. Courtney Oberg laced a double to left center, bringing Hanafin around to score, while a Turk double allowed Oberg to cross the plate from second. The final run crossed, as Weldon knocked a single to right center that brought Turk around, for a 9-1 lead.

Jenny Isham shut the door in the fifth with two strikeouts, ending the game.

Baylor will return home for a doubleheader against Prairie View A&M on March 17 beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Getterman Stadium.