WACO, Texas -- Baylor softball (1-0) kicked off the 2016 season with a bang, lifted by Shelby Friudenberg's walk-off home run in the seventh to knock off McNeese State (0-2), 5-4.

Through 5 innings of work, senior ace Heather Stearns was near lights out. Entering the sixth frame, Stearns had struck out four and added a fifth to open the inning. A walk and two singles loaded the bases, testing Stearns for the first time of the night. After a force out heads up throw from second to home, the bases were still loaded with two outs.

Stearns luck ran out after a single hit hard right at Sarah Smith put one across the plate, putting the Cowgirls up 2-1. The next batter, Tori Yanitor, drilled a ball down the left field line, just staying fair, and bringing home two more runs, while the Lady Bears were able to stop the big inning with a solid throw by Lindsey Cargill to catch Taylor Schmidt trying to advance from first to third on the play.

But the damage was done and left Baylor with just two frames to make up the deficit.

Sophomore Kendall Potts came on in relief in the 6th inning, giving up zero hits and striking out one.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, trailing 4-1, the Lady Bears got their first spark from a double to left-center by Jessie Scroggins. Jessica Tomchesson walked on five pitches, bringing up Ari Hawkins and the top of the BU lineup.

A perfect bunt single down the first base line put Hawkins on, while a fielding error by Cowgirls first baseman Shanice Hagler allowed Scroggins to score and pushed Tomchesson to third.

Cargill attempted to reach on a bunt single, with the throw narrowly beating her to the bag, advancing Hawkins to second and bringing up All-American Shelby Friudenberg.

Opting to throw to Friudenberg instead of intentionally walking the slugger for the second time of the game, McNeese pitcher Jamie Allred stepped in and left one high over the plate, with Friudenberg launching the misthrow high into the night sky and over the wall in dead center field, sealing a 5-4 victory for the Lady Bears.

STAT OF THE DAY
19 -- the seventh-inning blast by Friudenberg was the 19th of her collegiate career, just two home runs away from cracking the top 10 on Baylor's career list one game into her sophomore season.

TOP QUOTE #1
"I was not expecting it to go over, because I had hit a pop up (earlier)," said Friudenberg. "I was thinking that one was so hot that it was not going to make it over." --first baseman Shelby Friudenberg

TOP QUOTE #2
"Hats off to McNeese State, they came here and put up a great fight. When they had their opportunities, they capitalized and we did not. It did not look good, but we did not quit and that is the mark of our character. We are capable of playing much better in the next game, but it was the first game and we've got fifty-five left to play." --head coach Glenn Moore

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor continues on in the second of a three-game series with McNeese State to open the season, facing the Cowgirls on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Getterman Stadium.

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