No. 7 outfielder Chelsea Kovich attempts to throw out a runner against Prairie View A&M on Tuesday at Getterman Stadium. Baylor won twice in the doubleheader, 6-1 in the first game and 8-0 in the second.
By Krista Pirtle
Sports Writer
Even though the Lady Bears softball team seemed to lack focus in the second game of their doubleheader against Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, Baylor run-ruled the Lady Panthers 8-0 in the fifth inning.
Although the Lady Bears came out with a victory, there was still disappointment in coach Glenn Moore’s voice after the game.
“It’s just one of those going through the motions that I don’t like as a coach,” Moore said.
Earlier in the day Baylor won the first game, 6-1.
The Lady Bears never quite seemed to get a handle on game two starting pitcher Bridget Coronado so Moore looked to his speedy team to get on base.
“We weren’t hitting the ball very well, struggling with focus or whatever it may have been,” Moore said. “It’s no reason, with the ERAs we’re facing, that we shouldn’t have met that challenge. But we do have the luxury of going to more of the short game and bunts and we have speed on the team throughout.”
This speed made its presence known in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore Kelsi Kettler and senior KJ Freeland both bunted and made it to first base safely.
Then with junior Sydney Wilson at the plate and runners on second and third, Wilson bunted and Kettler slid safely across home for the suicide squeeze. While the Lady Panthers were discussing their frustrations with each other outside the pitcher’s circle, they forgot about Freeland, who snuck home behind their backs.
“I think it was a mixed signal,” Moore said. “It wasn’t a good time to do it. We had nobody out and two runners in scoring position. Honestly, I’d like to take credit for that, but it was a mistake and it worked out in our favor.”
Speed took over on the offensive side, while freshman Liz Paul and sophomore Alicia Vasquez got to work in the circle.
“I tried to just go after them and get ahead,” Paul said. “I used a lot of rise and curve balls.”
Paul pitched for four innings, allowing four hits and striking out six.
Vasquez entered the game in the fifth inning, striking out two and giving up only one hit.
Paul also had one of the long balls for Baylor, the first long shot of the afternoon between shortstop and the third baseman, which scored Freeland.
Redshirt freshman Holly Holl, redshirt sophomore Whitney Canion and Wilson each brought in RBI with deep shots to left center.
The Lady Bears only have three more days before they get on a plane and head to a tough tournament in San Diego, consisting of No. 1 UCLA, Fresno State, and more.
After they end that tournament, they head to Arizona for a three-game series against the Arizona Wildcats.
Between now and Friday, the team hopes to refocus and play the game it knows it can.
“We just need to stay focused,” senior Dani Leal said. “We just, I don’t know, just need to get back to where we were at the beginning and keep working hard every day.”
