March 9, 2017 Box Score
THE RUNDOWN NATCHITOCHES, La. - Baylor softball (20-4) took a pair of wins over Northwestern State (9-13-1), downing the Lady Demons 3-1 in eight innings in the first game and 5-0 in the second.
In game one, Gia Rodoni (6-0) pitched a near flawless 8.0 inning, complete game win for the Lady Bears. In a dominant outing, the sophomore posted the third-most strikeouts in a single game in program history, fanning 17 Lady Demons.
Rodoni allowed just two hits and one earned run, a solo home run, in the winning effort for the Lady Bears.
In a game where BU left 11 runners on base, there were no shortage of opportunities.
After the Lady Demons took the first lead on a home run in the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Bears leveled the score in the top of the sixth.
Lindsey Cargill singled through the right side, stealing second to move into scoring position. Maddison Kettler roped a single into centerfield, moving Cargill to third. Shelby McGlaun dribbled a ground ball down the first base line, scoring Cargill to pull BU even with NSU, 1-1.
With one out in the top of the seventh, the game was delayed for nearly an hour due to lightning.
Back out of the delay, the Lady Bears would enter extra innings with the Lady Demons, tied 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, Kettler led off with a walk, stealing second on the next pitch. She would move to third on the next at-bat, tagging on a pop fly to centerfield.
Caitlin Charlton took a free base on a hit-by-pitch, advancing to second on the next pitch.
With two outs, Jessie Scroggins lined a double to the wall in right center, scoring both Kettler and Charlton to help lift the Lady Bears to the 3-1 victory.
In game two of the doubleheader, Shelby McGlaun (4-2) took the start in the circle, working 6.0 shutout innings and holding NSU to five hits with seven strikeouts.
Kelsee Selman closed out the final frame, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Locked in another pitcher's duel, the Lady Bears were the first to crack the scoreboard, with McGlaun leading off at the plate in the fourth inning with a hit-by-pitch.
Riley Browder came on to pinch run, with Sydney Christensen switching places with Browder on a fielder's choice.
Charlton took another free base on a hit-by-pitch, followed by a single by Scroggins to load the bases.
Madi O'Neal subbed in to run for Christensen on third, scoring on the next play on a sac fly by Kyla Walker, giving BU the 1-0 lead.
Entering the seventh inning still hanging on to the slim advantage, the Baylor bats caught fire in the top of the seventh.
Ari Hawkins got the ball rolling with a bunt single to lead off, stealing second to move into scoring position. Shelby Friudenberg launched a 2-2 pitch left over the plate to deep left center, a no-doubt, two-run bomb to open up a three run lead for BU.
After Cargill was hit-by-pitch, Kettler followed up with another two-run shot, drilling her first collegiate home run to right field to push the Lady Bear lead to 5-0, clinching the sweep in the evening's doubleheader.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Gia Rodoni's 17 strikeout performance notched the third most single-game strikeouts in program history, just the 27th 13+ strikeout game by a BU pitcher.
- BU notched its first wins in true road games in 2017, improving to 2-2 in road matchups this year. - Shelby Friudenberg extended her on-base streak to 21 games, and counting. The junior slugger now holds sole possession of No. 5 on Baylor's consecutive games to reach base list, trailing Kayce Walker (23, 2009) for the No. 4 on the list.
- Friudenberg launched her fifth home run of the season and the 34th in her collegiate career, trailing Kelly Osburn (38, 2003-2006) by four for the No. 4 spot in the program record book.
STAT OF THE DAY
26 - the number of strikeouts dealt by the three BU pitchers, with Rodoni (17), McGlaun (7), and Selman (2) combining to fan 26 Lady Demons batters while allowing just one run and zero walks in 15.0 combined innings of work.
TOP QUOTE
"Gia had one of the all-time great performances in game one. As a former pitcher, I'm certainly aware of the significance of what she did, allowing only two hits, but more amazingly striking out 17 total batters, including every NSU starter at least once. I'll take the wins, even though they weren't pretty. This is a grueling road trip, and to be 6-1 right now tells me this team is pretty good." - Baylor head coach Glenn Moore
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Bears close out the lengthy road trip with a single-game scheduled for Thursday, March 9, at 4 p.m. CT with Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette, La.
#SicEm
