April 8, 2013
The No. 17 Baylor softball team (29-10) will step out of conference play for three games over the next two days, beginning with a single game at Texas State (9-28) on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. before traveling to Stephen F. Austin (12-24) for a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 2 pm.
Baylor is coming off a series loss at No. 1 Oklahoma. Freshman Sarah Smith leads the way offensively, with a .414 average, adding four home runs and 20 RBI. The Lady Bears enter with one of the nation's best pitching staffs (1.79 team ERA) led by Whitney Canion (15-6, 1.83) and Heather Stearns (9-4, 1.65).
The Lady Bears enter a stretch of six games in six days starting with a rematch against the Bobcats after a 10-2 (5) win on Feb. 21 in San Marcos. Baylor is 33-16 all-time against Texas State and 10-7 in San Marcos.
The Bobcats are led in the circle by freshman Ashley Wright and junior Rayn House. Wright has five wins, while House has a team-high 66 strikeouts in 102.0 innings pitched. Senior Haley Lemons leads Texas State at the plate with a batting average of .301 with 34 hits and 16 runs scored. Lemons has been walked a team-high 17 times this season; that puts her sixth on the career charts with 72. Brooke Baker is the top hitter for the Cats in conference play with a .400 hitting average.
SFA snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over McNeese State on Sunday. The Ladyjacks are hitting .208 as a squad, led by Elizabeth Arana's .373 average and 16 RBI. In the circle, Carlie Thomas guides SFA with a 9-10 mark and 3.18 ERA. Baylor is 34-18 all-time against the Ladyjacks, but 5-9 in Nacogdoches.
