By Nathan Keil | Sports Writer
No. 13 Baylor saw its eight-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night in a 1-0 walk-off loss to Texas State.
Senior pitcher Kelsee Selman allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases in the seventh inning with just one out. Freshman infielder Christian McDowell then grounded out to second base, bringing in the game’s only run.
Baylor head coach Glenn Moore said the game was a preview of what postseason play will be like with two good teams and pitchers going head-to-head.
“That was a postseason ballgame being played in the middle of our Big 12 schedule. That’s two postseason teams going head-to-head in a classic pitchers’ duel that you don’t usually see anymore. It’s hard to point fingers and be upset. It was a great ballgame and we just happened to be the team that came up short.”
Hits were at a premium in the matchup as Selman went toe to toe with Texas State junior pitcher Randi Rupp. Selman went the distance in the circle for Baylor, dropping to 18-4 in the circle this season. She allowed just five hits but did walk four while striking out eight Bobcat hitters.
Rupp, who was just named ESPNW’s National Player of the Week this week, was just a little bit better than Selman. The junior allowed just three hits without a walk while striking out four. The win was her 20th on the season.
One of those hits was a bunt single in the fourth inning to senior third baseman Lindsey Cargill, giving her the Baylor record for longest hitting streak at 20 games. She advanced to third base in the inning but was stranded there on freshman infielder Taylor Ellis’ fly out to center field.
Ellis singled with two outs in the second before being stranded and junior infielder Shelby Friudenberg led off the seventh inning with a single, but freshman outfielder Madi O’Neal, who came in to pinch run, was caught stealing.
Baylor falls to 35-7 on the season and still sits in third place in the Big 12 as it will be idle this weekend. The Lady Bears return to action for a doubleheader against Houston beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Getterman Stadium.
