Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Greg DeVries
Sports Writer
The Baylor softball team won both games in a doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin. The Lady Bears move to 24-12 on the season and will next take on the Kansas Jayhawks in a doubleheader on Friday.
The Lady Bears took the first game by a score of 8-1. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Liz Paul was the winning pitcher after replacing junior right-hander Courtney Repka after three innings. Paul moved to 7-5 on the season with the win.
Baylor recorded 17 hits in the win, including home runs by sophomore first baseman Holly Holl and freshman shortstop Jordan Strickland. Sophomore catcher Clare Hosack also added 3 RBI’s on three hits.
“It felt pretty good. It seemed like everything was finally clicking, which we really needed,” Holl said. “It was a little boost to our confidence, so it felt really good.”
The Lady Bears won the second game 5-1 on six hits. Repka earned her 11th win of the season to move to 11-6.
“[The pitchers] did well. They were focused,” Holl said. “We’ve been talking about staying focused every pitch, every batter, and I think thy did really well today.”
Stephen F. Austin got on the board first in the second game. Lady Lumberjack Cadie Weaver hit an RBI single to right field in the top of the fourth inning to break the 0-0 tie. Paul committed a throwing error on the next play to put runners on first and second with no outs. Repka took the mound after the error. She got out of the inning without allowing any further damage.
The Lady Bears answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore outfielder Shelbi Redfearn hit a two-run homer over the left field fence that also scored Holl, and Baylor took the lead 2-1.
“She kept pitching me inside. I took the first pitch, and then the next pitch she threw a changeup,” Redfearn said. “I just sat back on it and just tried to drive it.”
Senior outfielder Kayce Walker led off the bottom of the fifth inning by getting hit by a pitch. During the next at bat, she stole second before Strickland walked. Senior outfielder Sydney Wilson loaded the bases with a single to right field.
With the bases loaded, SFA catcher Landre Nattinger allowed a passed ball. This resulted in Walker scoring from third base, and the Lady Bears extended their lead to 3-1. Both runners also advanced on the play.
A single by Kathy Shelton loaded the bases for the second time in the inning. Kelsi Kettler slapped the ball down the left field line for a two-out, two-RBI single that extended Baylor’s lead to 5-1.
The Lady Bears maintained the lead through the end of the game to notch their 24th win of the year.
“It was very important. We’ve been through a rough stretch here facing some great teams,” head coach Glenn Moore said. “Just to score some runs, get some hits, swing the bats … was pretty nice.”
