April 16, 2013

WACO - The Baylor softball team (33-10) will step out of Big 12 play for four consecutive non-conference games, beginning with a doubleheader at North Texas (18-19) on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.

"It's very important that we go into our break on a positive note," head coach Glenn Moore said. "North Texas is a good, well-coached team and we are going to have to be ready to go from first pitch."

The Lady Bears have won four-straight games and are coming off a three-game sweep of Oklahoma State this past weekend. Baylor is led offensively by freshman Sarah Smith's .396 average, four home runs and 21 RBI. Kathy Shelton (.379, 31 steals) and Kaitlyn Thumann (.391, 25 steals) provide the 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup, as the duo are No. 1 and 2 in the Big 12 in steals, respectively.

Baylor holds a 1.67 team ERA in the circle and are guided by Whitney Canion (18-6, 1.63) and Heather Stearns (10-4, 1.62).

The Mean Green come into the doubleheader dropping its last three games. Hitting .243 as a team, UNT is led by Brooke Foster's .347 clip. In the circle, Ashley Kirk is 8-7 with a 2.96 ERA to guide the staff which enters with a 3.89 team mark.

North Texas and Baylor met earlier this season, with the Lady Bears taking an 8-3 win at the Texas Shootout on Feb. 23 before knocking off the Mean Green 9-3 in the championship the next day.