April 12, 2013

Box Score

0 OKLAHOMA ST. (24-18, 2-5) Rank: NR/NR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 2 6 0 Box Score | Highlights Waco, Texas • Attendance: 951

2 BAYLOR (31-10, 4-5) Rank: #20/16

STATS COMPARISON Runs 0 2 AB 21 23 Hits 1 6 RBI 0 1 BB 2 4 SO 11 6 LOB 3 9 STAT LEADERS Morrison 1 H 2 2 with None -- 2B 1 Strickland None -- 3B -- None None -- HR -- None None -- RBI 1 Smith Mikkelson 1 SB 1 Young PITCHING IP H R ER SO W - Stearns (10-4) 7.0 1 0 0 11 L - Espinosa (13-11) 6.0 6 2 1 6

WACO - Freshman Heather Stearns allowed just one hit, striking out 11 to lead No. 16 Baylor (31-10, 4-5) to a 2-0 win over Oklahoma State (24-18, 2-5) Friday night at Getterman Stadium.

"Heather was great for us tonight," head coach Glenn Moore said. "When her pitches are missing good swings, you know she has good stuff."

Stearns (10-4) had her fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the year, one off a career high, adding her fourth complete-game shutout. The righty gave up just one hit, walking only two with her 11 strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

Holly Holl and Sarah Smith each paced the way with two hits apiece, while Smith had the lone BU RBI.

The game's lone runs came in the bottom of the fifth when Kaitlyn Thumann got things going with a one-out single up the middle. Holl followed with a perfectly placed bunt-single down the third base line to put runners at first and second for Smith, who ripped a single to right that got between the legs of the right fielder and rolled all the way to the wall to score two.

Baylor, which stranded nine runners on the night, nearly jumped out to an early lead in the second. Linsey Hays reached on a throwing error from the pitcher and advanced to second on the sac bunt from Clare Hosack. Stearns drew a two-out walk, but Jordan Strickland flew out to left center to end the threat.

The Lady Bears started a two-out rally in the third, as Holl drew a four-pitch walk and Smith singled through the right side, but Hays' strikeout ended the inning.

Stearns had a no-hitter going through 5.2 innings until a two-out single to right by Ari Morrison broke it up.

"We know how hard that Oklahoma State team fights," Moore said. "We expect a battle from them the rest of this weekend."

The two teams will meet up again on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Baylor University will host the seventh annual Heart of Texas Community Tailgate Party, a free event for families that features Baylor baseball and softball games, food and activities. The event will get under way at 1 p.m. with inflatables, carnival games and lunch at the ballpark featuring free hamburgers from the Jack in the Box food truck, hot dogs, Dr Pepper products and Bluebell ice cream. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Free general admission tickets to the Baylor softball and baseball games, while supplies last.