Kevin Freeman | Lariat Photographer
By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
No. 16 Baylor softball captured a series win over Iowa State last weekend as the team blanked ISU twice at Getterman Stadium.
The Bears (34-12, 8-4 Big 12) were forced to play a doubleheader on Saturday after bad weather on Friday altered the weekend series schedule.
Baylor grinded out 2-0 shutout to kick off the weekend series on Saturday afternoon. A hit by freshman Shelby Friudenberg helped send sophomore Lindsey Cargill home for the score in the bottom of the first. Baylor held on for a 2-0 win.
Things went the opposite way in Saturday’s afternoon game for Baylor. Iowa State won its first game in Waco since 2002, edging the Bears 4-1.
Junior pitcher Heather Stearns picked up the loss after allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings; however, Moore didn’t think the statistics justified Stearns’ performance in the matchup.
“Heather was phenomenal,” Moore said. “She had one bad inning in her second game, but she kept it close and gave our team a chance. It was unfortunate that she had to lose the decision.”
In game two, Baylor was only 1-for-16 from the line and left the bases loaded in the fourth and seventh innings.
With the series on the line, Stearns shined on the pitching mound in the final contest. She allowed only one hit in the shutout.
Baylor kicked things off in a dominant fashion as the team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Thumann doubled to second base to get the game going for the Bears, followed by an RBI single from sophomore second baseman Ari Hawkins. Junior designated player Linsey Hays blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall for the quick 4-0 lead.
“It felt really good to hit a home run and doing what we did the first inning,” Hays said. “It was a great opportunity to redeem ourselves from what we did yesterday.”
Sophomore outfielder Lindsey Cargill and Hawkins each singled up the middle of the field, allowing Thumann to score. Cargill made the run to finish out the inning, and Baylor still lead 6-0.
Freshman pitcher Kendall Potts closed the 6-0 shutout.
“We clearly needed something,” Moore said. “We just needed to get passionate and get some incentive to play with a little more desire and heart than we had been. We came out ready to play today and I was very happy to see that.”
The Bears’ win on Sunday marked the 600th time the program has won under head coach Glenn Moore, clinching the series with a 6-0 shutout over ISU.
The loss keeps the Bears in second place with Oklahoma leading the Bears by one game.
“Being a little selfish I want three, we need three,” Moore said. “With OU losing, it would have been nice to get the sweep this weekend.”
Baylor hosts UTSA in its final non-conference matchup of the season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Getterman Stadium.
