March 12, 2002
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Big 12 pitcher of the week Cristin Vitek notched six strikeouts, and Kristen Lancaster and Danelle Arnold drove in two runs each as Baylor softball defeated No. 21 Texas A&M 4-0 in the conference opener for both teams.
Baylor (29-7, 1-0) scored two runs on three hits in the first inning, moving to 12-0 this season when scoring in the first frame. Lancaster got things started with an RBI single that scored Kelly Levesque, who led off the inning with a single up the middle. With Lancaster at first, Sarah Caudle at third and two outs in the inning, Arnold beat out an attempted Aggie double play, allowing Caudle to score.
Texas A&M (20-5, 0-1) threatened in the top of the second, putting runners at first and second with no outs. However, Vitek got the next three batters in order, two on strikeouts, to end the threat. From there, the freshman lefty cruised, allowing only a Salena Collins leadoff double over the next four frames.
Lancaster and Arnold struck again in the fifth. Levesque again led off with a single and then moved to second on a Stacey Hundley sacrifice bunt. After Caudle reached on a hit by pitch, she and Levesque advanced on a double steal. Lancaster then sent a fly ball deep enough to right that Levesque could score, pushing Baylor's lead to 3-0. Arnold made it a four-run lead when she followed with a double off the left-field wall that scored Caudle.
The Aggies made things interesting in the top of the seventh. With one out, Lindsay Wilhelmson reached on a Kim Wilmoth error, and Crystal Martin followed with a single through the left side. That is when Vitek was lifted for Joni Miller, who gave up a comeback single to Jennifer Davis before getting a strikeout and a groundout to end the rally.
Vitek (13-3) allowed just four hits with one walk, and she retired 16 of the last 19 batters she faced. Miller picked up her third save of the year and eighth of her career, tying Stacey Allison's school-record for career saves.
Jessica Slataper (10-3) was saddled with the loss. She surrendered four runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings of work.
Levesque was responsible for two of Baylor's seven hits, she and Caudle each scored twice.
Baylor returns to action Wednesday, hosting Texas-Arlington for a single-game at 6 p.m. CST. This game was originally scheduled for Feb. 6 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
